
Class _Ei5_L 
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MARINE- H^lSTdKY. 

THE LAK^ POETS. 




WINDSOR. 



DESCRIPTIVE ANB IIISTOBlCjU REVIEW, 

EMBRACING A VAST AMOUNT OF USEFUL, HISTORICAL AND COMMERCIAL 
INFORMATION, SHOWING THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF THE ~ 
CITY IN POPULATION, WEALTH AND;JBUSINESS, &c., &c. 

BUSINESS AND BUSINESS MEN. 



DETROIT: 
Historical Publishing Company. 

1877. 



t Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876. in the office of the Librarian of J 

Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Eailroi 

THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE FROM CHICAGO 

To All Points in the West, San Francisco and t" 

Faci£.c Coast. 




Tickets for Sale at all the Principal Ticket Offices..,^;, 

BE SURE AND ASK FOR TICKETS VIA C, R. I. cV P. R'Y. 
A. M. SMITH, Gen. Pass, igent. A. KlSiBALL, Gen. Snpt. HIGH RIDDLE, President. 



MARINE HISTORY. 



THE 



1^ 



LAKE PORTS. 




HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW 



LAKES, RIVERS, ISLANDS, CITIES, TOWNS, WATERING PLACES, 

FISHERIES, VESSELS, STEAMERS, CAPTAINS, DISASTERS, 

EARLY NAVIGATORS, MINERAL WEALTH, TRADE, 

COMMERCE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC., ETC. 



DETROIT: 

HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

1877. 
_________ 



r!'d3 




4\M,i^ X-. 



THE PORT OF WINDSOR, ONT. 




HISTORICAL REVIEW. 

Tradt' and Coiniiwrce — Business and Business Men — Advantage of 
Location — Progress it has Made — Great Results from Small 
-Beginnings. 




'jI^IETWEEN seveuty and eighty years ago the site of the present town 



^' of Windsor was little better than a wilderness; a few log cabins 



and three or four more pretentious log houses were the only indi- 
-w^^Nw^^ cations of civilization. 'Tis ti'ue the farms, if such they might be 
called, were owned by those who cultivated them, but their crops served 
only to supply their daily wants, save a periodical exchange of commodities 
with the Northwest Trading Company, who had a station in the neighbor- 
hood of Sandwich, and another at Troy, one mile above Windsor. 

Among the most prominent of the early settlers of this neighborhood 
was Francis Baby, P. Oullette, the Rowe and the Soyeau families, many of 
whose descendants are at the present time among the most wealthy and prom- 
inent residents of Essex County. Some idea of the value of real estate a few 
years previous to this may be gathered from the following: During the occu- 
pancy of Detroit by the French the property which now forms part of the 
corporation of Windsor, known as the Jennett farm, was sold by the com- 
mandant of the fort at Detroit for a yearly rent charge of six bushels of 
wheat and two capons. But about this time the emigration fever, kept alive 
by the reports of the fabulous resources of the Far West, combined with the 
superior local advantages offered by its location on one of the most beautiful 
rivers of the continent, induced very many during the succeeding fifteen or 
twenty years to locate in the neighborhood ; indeed, so rapidly did the popu- 
lation increase that in 1S28 there were upward of tive hundred residents in 
the neighborhood, between Sandwich and Walkerville. About 1796 Angus 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Latin and Greek and a more complete course of mathematics, natural sciences, 
belles lettres and history — ancient and modern. The college is a thoroughly 
first-class one in every respect, and under the judicious management of its 
president, Rev. Denis O'Connor, it has become by far the finest college in 
the county, and has few, if any, superior in the province. 



ASSUMPTION COLLEGE! 

SANDWICH, ONTARIO, 

(OPPOSITE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES.) 

Under the special patronage of Right Rev. John Walsh, D. D., Bishop of London, 
Ontano, and the direction of the Basilian, Fathers. 



THE STUDIES EMBRACE THE CLASSICAL AND COMMERCIAL. 



Terms including all ordinuri) expenses, Canada money, i|150.00 p^r annum. 
For particulars apply' to REV. DENIS O'CONNOR, President. 



N. B. — All fees to be paid strictly in advance, in three terms, at the beginning of September, 
loth of December, and 20th of March. Defaulters after one week from the dates above mentioned 
will not be allowed to attend the College. No deduction shall be made for any term commenced, 
unless in cases of prolonged illness or expulsion. Address, 

REV. DENIS O'CONNOR, 

President of the College. 



W. H. E. WHITING, 

Among the successful business men of Windsor, may be mentioned W. H. 
E. Whiting, who occupies a fine three-story buildii g on the east side of 
Sandwich street, twenty-two feet wide l)y seventy f'ct deep, as a clothing 
store. The business was established by ]\Ir. Cameron about five years ago, 
the present proprietor having been in possession since <he spring of 1873. 
This is the only exclusive ready-made clothing establishment in the city. The 
stock is a very fine one and embraces everything a])pertaining to the clothing 
and gents' furnishing goods trade. On account of the sujx'riority of his goods 
he enjoys an extensive local and country patronage. Parties visiting Windsor 
cannot do better than trade at this reliable institution. From a moderate 
commencement, by paying strict attention to the wants of his customers, Mr. 
Whiting has succeeded in estal)lisliing a business the returns rom which 
aggregate about $30,000 annually. 

\\r. H. E. WHITINGS 

Keeps constantly on hand a large and well selected stock of 

Men's Youths' and Boys' Ready-Made Clothing, in all the Latest Styles, 

Also all the latest novelties in Hats, Caps and Gents' Furnishings. 

SILK HANDKERCHIEFS and FINE NECKWEAR A SPECIALTY. 

Don't fail to call, WINDSOR CLOTHING STORE, 

33 Opera House Block, Windsor, Ont. 



THE PORT OF WINDSOR, ONT. 




HISTORICAL REVIEW. 

Trade ami Coininercc — Business and Business Men — Advantage of 
Location — Progress it has Made — Great Results from Small 
BciT innings. 




'|ETWEEN seventy and eighty years ago the site of the present town 
of Windsor w;is little better than a wilderness; a few log cabins 

f; and three or four more pretentious log houses were the only indi- 
#^^^ cations of civilization. 'Tis true the farms, if such they might be 
called, were owned by those who cultivated them, but their crops served 
only to supply their daily wants, save a periodical exchange of commodities 
with the Northwest Trading Company, who had a station in the neighbor- 
hood of Sandwich, and another at Troy, one mile above Windsor. 

Among the most prominent of the early settlers of this neighborhood 
was Francis Baby, P. Oullette. the Rowe and the Soyeau families, many of 
whose descendants are at the present time among the most wealthy and prom- 
inent residents of Essex County. Some idea of the value of real estate a few 
years pi-evious to tliis may be gathered from the following: During the occu- 
pancy of Detroit by the French the propertj' which now forms part of the 
corporation of Windsor, known as the Jennett farm, was sold by the com- 
mandant of the fort at Detroit for a yearly rent charge of six bushels of 
wheat and two capons. But about this time the (^migration fever, kept alive 
by the reports of the fabulous resources of the Far West, combined with the 
superior local advantages offered by its location on one of the most beautiful 
rivers of the continent, induced very many during the succeeding fifteen or 
twentj^ years to locate in the neighborhood ; indeed, so rapidly did the popu- 
lation increase that in 1828 there were upward of five hundred residents in 
the neighborhood, between Sandwich and Walkerville. About 1796 Angus 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Latin and Greek and a more complete course of mathematics, natural sciences, 
belles lettres and historj' — ancient and modern. The college is a thoroughly 
first-class one in every respect, and under the judicious management of its 
president. Rev. Denis O'Connor, it has become ])y far the finest college in 
the county, and has few, if any, superior in the province. 



ASSUMPTION COLLEGE! 

SANDWICH, ONTARIO, 

(opposite DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES.) 

Under the special patromtge of Right Re i\ John Walsh. D. D., Bishop of London, 
Ontario, and the direction of the Basilian Fathers. 



THE STUDIES EMBRACE THE CLASSICAL AND COMMERCIAL. 



Ternm, including all ordinary expenses, Canada money, f 150.00 ^^cr annum. 
For particiilars apply to REV. DENIS O'CONNOR, President. 



N. B. — All fees to be paid strictly in advance, in three terms, at the beginning of September, 
loth of December, and 20th of March. Defaulters after one week from the dates above mentioned 
will not be allowed to attend the College. No deduction shall be made for any terra commenced, 
unless in cases of prolonged illness or expulsion. Address, 

REV. DENIS O'CONNOR, 

President of the College. 



W. H. E. WHITING, 

Among the successful business men of Windsor, may be mentioned W. H. 
E. Whiting, who occupies a fine three-storj' building on the eii^ side of 
Sandwich street, twenty-two feet wide by seventy feet deep, as a clothing 
store. The business was established by Mr. Cameron about five years ago, 
the present proprietor having been in posse.ssion since the spring of 1873. 
This is the only exclusive ready-made clothing establishment in the city. The 
stock is a very fine one and embraces everything appertaining to the clothing 
and gents' furnishing goods trade. On account of the superiority of his goods 
he enjoys an extensive local and country patronage. Parties visiting Windsor 
cannot do better than trade at this reliable institution. From a moderate 
commencement, by paying strict attention to the Avnnts of his customers, Mr. 
Whiting has succeeded in establishing a business the returns from which 
aggregate about $30,000 annually. 

^^. H. E. ^VHITING- 

Keeps constantly on hand a large and well selected stock of 

Men's Youths' and Boys' Ready-Made Clothing, in all the Latest Styles, 

Also all the latest novelties in Hats, Caps and Gents' Furnishings. 

SILK UANDKERCHIEFS and FINE NECKWEAR A SPECIALTY. 

Don't fail to call. WINDSOR CLOTHING STORE, 

33 Opera House Block, Windsor, Ont. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



BLACK & CHEYNE. 

This firm have -one of the largest dry goods and millinery houses in Windsor. 
They occupy a three story brick building, >vith a fi'ontage of twenty-five feet 
by sixty feet deep on Sandwich street. The firm was established b}' its i)re- 
sent proprietors in the Spring of 1872, and have succeeded in making it one of 
the finest concerns in the town. Their display of silks is very line, many 
Detroit hulies visit Windsor for the exjjress purpose of patronizing this favor 
ite establishment. The millinery business in connection with the cou(-ern, is a 
very extensive one, by far the largest in town, and emi)loys several hands. 
There are numerous other departments connected with the business, such as 
the shawl department, mantle and jacket department, etc. *fec., all equally well 
appointed, and doubtless e((ually attractive to the fair visitors. Although 
Messrs. Black ct C'ueyxe, have been ct)mparatively but a short time in busi- 
ness, they may justly claim a front place among the merchants of Windsor. 

BLACK & CHEYNE, 




TRADE r^^^C^_L.ii.i«fc^^i^N MARK. 



BEAVEE HOUSE, 



No. 17 SANDWICH STREET, WINDSOR, 

IMPORTERS OF 

DSr GOODS AKD MILLIXE^Y, 

GENTS' FURNISHINGS, 
HA~rS, CARS AND FURS„ 



THE SANDWICH MINERAL SPRINGS. 

One of the most important institutions of the ancient and picturesque little 
town of Sandwich, are the Mineral Si)rings, known as the " Pool of Siloam. " 
The eflicacy of medicated waters and sjnungs has been recognized from time 
immemorial as instrumental in curing many diseases which fl(>sh is heir to. 
The famous Saratoga Springs, and otliei's may of cours(! claim precedence as 
fashionable resorts, but it is doublful whether" as much can be said respecting 
the healing projierties of their watei's, many smaller and less noted sprina;" 
according to medical authority, affording far greatei- advantages to invaliifs. 
The Si>rings forming the subject of this arti( le,"are di>slined ere long to become 
a pojiular place of resort and a rendezvous for invalids. The analysis of the 
water shows that although sulphur is the predominating feature, a co'nsiderable 
quantity of iron, magnesia, &c., enter into its composition; rendering it a most 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



that is perfectly irresistible. The sitting rooms are also deserving of special 
notice for the extremely' lavish manner in which thej^ are appointed. Each con- 
tains a handsome piano, so that guests returning to the hotel after a day's weari- 
some business, or not less wearisome pleasure, can be solaced by listening to the 
sweet music evoked by the white fingers of some fair guest. There is also a 
veranda on the second floor, overlooking the Detroit river. This is a beautiful 
place for guests to sit in the evening The cool breezes from off the river 
being particularl}' refreshing in summer, and affording the visitor, besides one of 
the best opportunities that could possibly be given of witnessing the various 
aquatic contests that are freciuentiy taking place during the season. This year, 
as is well known, the International Rowing Association's annual boating regatta 
will take place at Detroit. This magnificent sight, in which all the best muscle 
and sinew of American boating associations will ])articipate, and which many 
will travel hundreds of miles to see, can be witnessed from no better point or 
elevation than the veranda of the ('rawford House. On the top of the building 
is a handsome cupola, accessible by a staircase and containing glass windows at 
all points of the compass, having a fine view of the river and surrounding 
country for a radius of twenty miles. From this elevation the roof can be 
gained, and here a fine bird's eye view of Detroit is obtainable, and Perch 
island and Grosse Point, a distance of about fifteen miles, is plainly visible 
without the aid of either telescope or prospect glass. A splendid table is kept, 
under experienced management, and every care taken to please the taste of the 
most fastidious. The house has ample accommodations for two hundred guests. 
The staff of emj^loyes is large and efficient, and guests may rely on being 
treated with politeness and consideration by all. The hotel is under the ex- 
perienced management of Mr. Frank Washburn, for some time clerk during 
the pro]irietorship of Mr. Herons, and under his skillful rule the house is in a 
flourishing and prosperous condition. Bath rooms and appurtenances are pro- 
vided for guests free of charge. These rooms are handsomely fitted and com- 
plete in every particular. One fact must not be forgotten, viz : that the gas 
with which the hotel is lighted is made on the premises, it being the only place 
in Windsor where that combustible is used. Mr. Crawford is a gentleman well 
and favorably known among business circles. He is a well known capitalist, 
possessing a large (luantity of property in Montreal, Windsor and other places, 
and too much praise cannot be given him for the good he has done the town of 
Windsor in establishing within her precincts so fine an institution as the Craw- 
ford House. 

ASKIN 6c BABY'S VINEGAR WORKS. 

This extensive business was first established by ^Ir. Hiram Walker, of 
Detroit, in 185(). The premises, which consist of a fine three-story building, 
forty-eight feet square, occupy lot sixty-six of the first concession at Sandwich. 
Subsequently the business passed into the hands of Mr. John Thorpe, who 
sold out to its present proprietors, Messrs. Askin it Baby, about two years ago. 
These works possess all the requirements for carrying on a large business. 
Their specialty ccnisists in making a superior vinegar from highwines, for 
which they have an immense demand, tlieir trade extending over the whole 
county and province, and in the manufacture oC which several hands are em- 
ployed. This is the largest vinegar works west of Hamilton, Ontario. Mr. 
Askin, the senior partner of this firm, is one of the oldest residents of Sand- 
wich, and was the late County Register, which office his father held for manj' 
3'ears previously. 

Established 1856. " P. O. Drawer 835. 

ASKIN <fe BABY 

Manufacturers of pure 

VINEGARS, WHITE WINE, CIDER AND MALT, 
Windsor Vinegar Works. 

WINDSOR, ONTARIO. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



BLACK & CHEYNE. 

This firm have due of the largest dry goods and millinery houses in Windsor. 
They occupy a three story brick Imikliug, with a frontage of twenty-five feet 
by sixty feet deep on Sandwich street. Tlie firm was established by its pre- 
sent proprietors in tlie t^priug of 1872, and have succeeded in making it one of 
the finest concerns in the town. Their display of silks is very fine, many 
Detroit ladies visit Windsor for the express purpose of patronizing this favor 
ite establishment. The unllinery business in connection with the concern, is a 
very extensive one, by far the largest in town, and employ's several hands. 
There are numerous other departments connected with the l)usiness, such as 
the shawl department, mantle and jacket department, &c. etc., all ecjually well 
appointed, and doubtless e(|ually attractive to the fair visitors. Although 
Messrs. Black & Ciieyxk, have been comparatively but a short time in busi- 
ness, they ma}' justly claim a front place among the merchants of Wmdsor. 

BLACK & CHEYNE, 




TRADE -''.^^i^^~X?^l^>^^^~-N MARK. 



BEATEE HOUSE, 



No. 17 SANDWICH STREET, WINDSOR, 

IMPORTERS OF 

0®r GOODS AKD MILLIKEUY, 

GENTS' FURNISHINGS, 
HAT'S, CARS AND FURS_ 



THE SANDWICH MINERAL SPRINGS. 

One of the most important institutions of the ancient and ]Mrluresque little 
town of Sandwich, are the Mineral Springs, known as the '• Pool of Siloam." 
The eflicacy of medicated waters and springs has been recognized from time 
immemorial as instrumental in curing many diseases Avhich flesh is heir to. 
The famous Saratoga Springs, and others niay of course claim ])recedence as 
fashionalile resorts, but it is doubtful whether" as nnich can be said respectinij 
the healing projierties of their waters, many smaller and less noted sprinu;8 
accordinir to medical authority, affording far greater advantages to invalids. 
The Springs forming tlie subject of this artii le.^are destined ere long to become 
a pojudar place of resort and a rendezvous f.n- invalids. The analysis of the 
water shows Uiat although sulpluu- is the predominating feature, a considerable 
quantity of iron, magnesia, &c., enter into its composition; rendering it a most 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



that is perf ectl}' irresistible. The sitting rooms are also deserving of special 
notice for the e.xtrcrael}' lavish manner in which they are appointed. Each con- 
tains a handsome piano, so that guests returning to the hotel after ada3'^'s weari- 
some business, or not less wearisome pleasure, can be solaced by listening to the 
sweet music evoked by the white fingers of some fair guest. There is also a 
veranda on the second floor, overlooking the Detroit river. This is a beautiful 
place for guests to sit in the evening" The cool breezes from off the river 
being particularly refreshing in summer, aud affording the visitor, besides one of 
the best opportunities that could possibly be given of witnessing the various 
aiinatic contests that are fretiuentiy taking place during the season. This year, 
as is well known, the International Rowing Association's annual boating regatta 
will take place at Detroit. This magnificent sight, in which all the best muscle 
and sinew of American boating associations will participate, and which many 
will travel hundreds of miles to see. can be witnessed from no better point or 
elevation than the veranda of the Crawford House. On the top of the building 
is a handsome cui)ola, accessible In- a staircase and containing glass windows at 
all points of the comjjass, having a fine view of the river aud .surrounding 
country for a radius of twenty miies. From this elevation the roof can be 
gained, and here a fine bird's eye view of Detroit is obtainable, and Perch 
Island aud Grosse Point, a distance of about fifteen miles, is plainly visible 
without the aid of either telescope or prospect glass. A splendid table is kept, 
under experienced management, and every care taken to please the taste of the 
most fastidious. The house has ample accommodations for two hundred guests. 
The staff of employes is large and efficient, and guests may reh' on being 
treated with politeness and consideration by all. The hotel is under the ex- 
perienced management of Mr. Frank Washburn, for some time clerk during 
the proprietorship of Mr. Herons, and under his skillful rule the house is in a 
fiourishing and prosperous condition. Bath rooms and appurtenances are pro- 
vided for guests free of charge. These rooms are handsomely fitted and com- 
plete in every particular. One fact must not be forgotten, viz : that the gas 
with which the hotel is lighted is made on the premises, it being the only place 
in Windsor where that combustible is used. Mr. Crawford is a gentleman well 
and favorably known among business circles. He is a well known capitalist, 
possessing a large ([uantity of property in Montreal, Windsor and other places, 
and too much praise cannot be given him for the good he has done the town of 
Windsor in establishing within her precincts so fine an institution as the Craw- 
ford House. 

ASKIN & BABY'S VINEGAR WORKS. 

This extensive business was first established by Mr. Hiram Walker, of 
Detroit, in 185(5. The premises, which consist of a fine three-story building, 
forty-eight feet square, occupy lot sixty-six of the first concession at'Sandwich. 
Subsequently the business passed into the hands of Mr. John Thorpe, who 
sold out to its present proprietors, Messrs. Askin & B.\nY, about two years ago. 
These works jjossess all the requirements for carrying on a large business. 
Their specialty consists in making a superior vinegar from highwines, for 
which they have an immense demand, their trade extending over the whole 
county and province, and in the manufacture of which several hands are em- 
ployed. This is the largest vinegar works west of Hamilton, Ontario. Mr. 
Askin, the senior partner of this firm, is one of the oldest residents of Sand- 
wich, and was the late County Register, which office his father held for many 
years previously. 



Established 1856. P. O. Drawer 835. 

ASKi:Nr & BABY 

Manufacturers of pure 

VINEGARS, WHITE WINE, CIDER AND MALT, 

Windsor Vinegar "Works. 

WINDSOR. ONTABIO. 



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GOODRICH TRANSPORTATION CO. 

Side-Wheel Steamboat Lines. 

Passenger steamers leave Chicago alternately for 




BaciDB, IllwaikfiB, SlieDofPD aM laiitowflc, 



The Elegant Side-Wheel Sthamkoats 



Every Morning;, Sundays excepted, at 9 o'clock. 

Saturday'!* Boat don't leave until 8 o'clock, P. M. 

Friday Wlornlntf's Ooat goes Tliroiigli to Kewenaw and Aliiiej>ee. 

Connects at RACINE with W. U. K. K., and at MILWAUKEE with all Railroads 
for the West aud North. 

Also connects at Milwaukee with Steamer I)E PERE, Tuesday and 
Thur.sdiiy Evenings, for 

LUDINOTON and IVIAISriSTKK. 

Th'5 DB PERE also leaves Milwaukee every Saturday eveninj; for LUDING- 
TON, MANISIEE and FRANKFORT. 



Tlie Oreen and Kscanaba Bay Liine oT Boats leave Tuesday and Friday 
Evenings at 7 o'clock, toiiclilng at Intermediate Ports. 



"^'Traveling by the Boats, Board included, cheaper than Staying at Home I 
Fare to Milwaukee. Meals included, only $2.00, l)eing #1.00 less than by 
Rail. R. R. Tickets "ood on the Boats. ' 



For fiirand Haven, ]nuske«;on, PentAvater, Big Kapids, Traverse City, 
Holland, Allegan, Ciraitd Rapids, Fruitport, Spring Lake, Saginavv, 
Detroit, etc., every evening, Sundays e.\cepted, at 7 o'clock. Excursionists from 
Chicago on Saturday Evening's Boat, can arrive back in Chicago early Monday 
Morning. I'are to Grand Haven only $2.20; Muskegon, $3.00; Grand Rapids, 
$3.50; Berth included. 

For St. Joseph, the new and elegant Side-Wheel Steamer "CORONA," every 
morning, Sundays excepted, at 10 o'clock Saturday's Boat will not leave until 
11 P. M 

For Green Bay, ITIenoniinee, and luteriiiediate Ports, every Tuesday and 
Friday evening, at 7 o'clock. 



|^~ All Steamers leave from (JoodrMi's Steiiiiiboat Dock, foot of Micliigran Avenue. 
A, E. GOODRICH, Pres't. T. G BUTLI^, Sup't. 



. PORT HURON. 




Its Early History — Trade and Commerce — Business and Busiiiess 
Men — Advantage (>f Location — Progress if has Made — Great 
Results from Small Beginnings. 



?^HE fir.st authentic accounts of the settlement of the country along the 
St. Chiii- River have of necessity been obtained by tradition. Until 
l(58li there were no settlers in the neighborhood, but during this j^ear 
a military station was established at. the point where Fort Gratiot is now 
located. This post was called St. Joseph, and was occupied until the fall of 
1678, when it was abandoned. From this time no further settlement was 
attempted until one hundred and four years later. During this time the 
whole of this country was occupied by roving l)ands of Chippewa Indians 
and a few French half-ln-ccds. It was their favorite camping ground, fre- 
quently as many as two thousand being assembled at one time. 

The earliest accoiuit of white setthn-s in this neighborhood dates back to 
1790, when Auslem Petet and six other Frenchmen with their families settled 
here. One Jarvais built a saw-mill on what is now known as Indian Creek, 
but was then named La Riviere Jarvais, and Black River was called La 
River Delude. During the war of 1813, in which many tribes of the neigh- 
boring Indians took a prominent part, these early settlers were obliged to 
leave their homes, but early in 1815 they they returned reinforced and re-took 
them. 



38 THE LAKE PORTS. 



The late Edward Petet was the first white child born in the settlement. 
This important event took place in a log house at the foot of what is now 
Court street, on the 7th of Februarj', 1813. Mr. Petet was a large property 
owner in Port Huron and vicinity. He died a .short time since, beloved for 
his many social qualities, and respected by all classes as an upright business 
man and gentleman. His father, the Anslem Petet before mentioned, built 
the first frame house ever seen in these forest wilds, about nine years after the 
birth of young Edward, who could in after years accurately describe the way 
in which it was built and many of the minor details connected with it. 

In 1819 the Hon. Daniel B. Harrington located here, and at once became 
a leading spirit in the little community. Mr. Harrington, in conjunction 
with Judge White, purchased a considerable tract of land and laid out the 
first village lots. 

The township of Desmond was organized in 1826. and the first election of 
officers was held at Fort Gratoit on May Gth, of the same year. A part of the 
present city south of Black River, was platted and ofliered for sale in 18;i5 by 
D. B. Harrington, Ed. Petit and Mr. Wliite. This village was called Peru. 
Two years later. Major John Thorn platted apiece on the north side and 
called it Paris. But the name of Port Huron was first given the village by 
Mr. Harrington ; it was at first strongly opposed, but eventually became the 
recognized name of the village. 

Port Huron remained a village for over twenty years, but in 1857 a city 
charter Avas granted, and AVilliam L. Bancroft was elected the first mayor. 
The records of the village government are verj' incomplete, and the informa- 
tion obtainable respecting changes and improvements during the time is for 
the most part unreliable. As near as can be ascertained the villages became 
a corporation in 1842 or '43. In 1833 a military road was cut through from 
the Fort to Detroit, which considerably assisted the town of Desmond, and 
was a main feature in assisting Poit Huron to become an incorporated 
village. 

The first hotel of wiiich tlie village could boast was built l»y Louis Facer 
in 1827 ; it was a log cabin of rude construction, and occupied a site on 
Quay street, near the Black River. Soon after this a bridge was built con- 
necting the northern and southern sections of the village. 

Many important branches of business have for many years been carried on 
in Port Huron. Those perhaps which in past years more materially aided in 
building it up were ship building and the cutting of lumber ; but of late 
years, owing to the latter industry being removed nearer the lumber supply, 
and tlie general stagnation in marine matters combined, have led to a more 
careful and general prosec\ition of agriculture, and at the present time but 
few portions of Michigan can boast such a number of valuable, well-culti- 
vated farms, or a more prosperous and contented agricultural community. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 39 



The Port Huron »V l.;ikc .Miclii^Mu liiiilroad, coiiiidctcd lo Fliiil in Dccf-ni- 
ber, 1871, and since Ciirrietl through to Lausinj;, and tin; (Jrand Trunk Rail- 
road of Canada, iiiw cinploynu'nt to Kcvcral hundred men the year round. 
Several otlu-r industries are also in aelivt; operation and employ a iar;;e per 
centage of the population. The marine interests of the city are ver}' lari^e, 
most of the prineii)al vessels and tugs naviijating- the upper lakes being owned 
here, and many captains and sailors reside here. ^The lily is divided into 
four wards, the tirst and third l^'iug north of Black River, and the second and 
fourth end)racing the territory along the southern bank of the stream. 

Under the city charter the government consists of a mayor, clerk, treasurer 
and street commissioner, elected annually on the first ^Monday in April, on a 
general ticket : a recorder, elected once in three years; four justices of the 
peace, holding office for four years and elected one each year; and eight al- 
dermen, holding ofHce for two years, one being elected for ea<;h ward, 
every year. The Common Council also elects yearly a city marshal and a 
deputy, a city attorney, and sucli other otlicers and assistants as may be re- 
cpiired. The Board of Education consists of eight members, two for each 
ward, holding office for four years. Every three years a city assessor is 
elected, who is ex-offlcio a member of the Board of Supervisors. One super- 
visor is ele(;ted each year from each ward. The mayor yearly appoints one 
member of the Board of Public Works, subject to the approval of the Coun- 
cil. The Board of Public Works consists of four members, one from each 
ward, holding office tor four years, and having general charge and manage- 
ment of all public works in the city. 

The principal public buildings and v.-(>rks in tlie city ari\ two school Imild- 
ings on the south side of Black River, the city hall and county court house 
in the third ward, the engine house on Water street, and the new water 
works building ; Pine Grove Park and the City cemetery in the third ward. 
The city also owns a Clapp & Jones steam tire engine, hose and carts, hook 
and ladder wagon, a hand lire engine, and other equi[)ments. The city gas 
works and the Port Huron and Fort Uratoit street railway are owned by pri- 
vate companies. 

By the State census of 18(i4 the population of Port Huron was 4,()2."), but at 
the present it is estimated that it amounts to at least 8,000. Port Huron 
is the county .seat of St. Clair Cotmty, and is located a little below where the 
lake empties itself into the St. Clair River. It is si.xty-two miles northeast of 
Detroit, and by a direct line about one hundred and ten miles east of Lans- 
ing. Directly opposite on the Canadian side is Port Sarnia, a town of about 
3,500 inhabitants, and which is connected with Port Huron by admirable 
ferry accomntodation. The Grand Trunk Railway approaches the city no 
nearer than Fort Gratiot, but the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad 
runs directly into it. With the American and Canadian railroads Port Huron 
has direct communication with all parts of the continent. 



40 THE LAKE PORTS. 



Black River, which takes its rise in the pine woods of Saiiihic and Lapeer 
counties, flows into the St. Clair liiver at Port Huron, and practically divides 
the city into two parts. It is employed for the tloatini? down large quantities 
of logs, a greater part of which arc manufactured into lumber at Port 
Huron. The river within the city limits is crossed by two elegant iron 
bridges, costing a large sum of money each. Two large dry docks and 
several shipj^ards are loca^^d here. There are fifteen hotels in the city, the 
jjrincipal one being the Huron House. There are two ably conducted jiapers, 
the Times, daily and weekly, and the Commercial, semi-weekly. 

The naturally beautiful location of Port Huron, just below the rapids on 
the St. Clair River, its position on an elevated terrace overlooking a vast 
extent of country, its salubrious atmosphere and l)eautiful rural surroundings, 
makes it one of the most attractive spots in Michigan. A ])erusal of the fol- 
lowing pages will readilj' convince the most .skeptical that it promises .shortly 
to become not only a favorite place of residence, but one of the leading manu- 
facturing points of the Northwest. 

Port Huron, as compared with other western cities, affords unusual 
advantages to capitalists, manufacturers, and others desirous of extending 
their operations or seeking new fields of enterprise. The Black River and 
Pine River, which have their rise in the great pine regions of Northern 
Michigan, empty themselves into the St. Clair through this cit}% and annually 
float down many million feet of logs, which are manufactured into lumber 
for home and eastern markets. These, with several .smaller streams in the 
vicinity, offer most eligible sites for the building and operating, at a small 
cost, woolen mills, chair factories, paper mills and various other industries. 
Possessing a large extent of river front, exceptionably adapted to manufac- 
turing purposes and contiguous to the northwestern terminus of the Grand 
Trunk Railroad, and the recently' constructed extension of Chicago »t Lake 
Huron Railroad, the facilities for shipping to any part of the continent, 
either by boat or rail, are at this point unequaled by any western port. 

Hitherto the principal iron manufacturers of the United States have been 
devoted to the anthracite regions of the country. But that these industries 
can be as advantageou.sly prosecuted in closer proximity to the; mineral 
deposits of the northern peninsula has alreadj^ been demonstrated. Indeed, 
there can be no reason why blast furnaces, steam forges, steel works and 
other iron manufacturing interests should not be as successfully operated in 
Port Huron, Michigan, as in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the former case, 
it is true, the greater part of the coal needed in its manufacture would have 
to brought from the fields of Pennsylvania; but, on the other hand, the ore 
has to be transported in its native state, at a great expense, to those cities 
which now control this manufacture. That the many advantages this neigh- 
borhood possesses should so long have been overlooked is astonishing ; with 
the most expeditious means of transportation the United States affords, with 



THE LAKE PORTS. 41 



ckisc and cdntimioiis connection, both l)y ))oat. and rail, to ail llic iirincipal 
cities of this country and Canada, surrounded with plenty of the best timber 
that the country produces, and wliich can be bought , manufactured and shipped 
to any point at much less cost than it could be in eastern cities, with the thous- 
ands of »ons of iron, copjjcr aiul silver ore that are produced annually in the 
State, and which could be smelted and manufactured here as cheaply as at 
any other point, yet in the face of these indisputable facts there are no great 
manufacturing interests represented in this city. AVhy should our farmers 
be compelled fo use harvesters, reapers, mowers and other agricultural imple- 
ments of eastern manufacture, purchased through agents at exhorbitanl 
prices, w^heu the very elements out of which they are made are first produced 
from Michigan soil ? Why should the millions of timber annually felled in 
this State be manufactured into lumber with eastern machinery, when the 
very components out of which man's ingenuity has manufactured the cii'cular 
saw, the planer, and the edger, exist in rich abundance under their very 
hearthstones? 

Aside from all these conclusive reasons for making Port Huron a great 
manufacturing center, it possesses geographical features of undeniable advan- 
tage as a place of residence. Located on one of tlie most beautiful rivers in 
the world, surrounded liy a rich and thicklj' settled agricultural country, and 
enjoying all the pleasures of a delightful watering place, the existence of a 
more health}^ and delightful locality can scarcely be imagined. The local 
government, taking i)ride in all that adds to the comfort and conveniece of its 
citizens, have from time to time made numerous extensive improvements. 

Broad, well-made streets and side-walks, and lighted by gas, a most com- 
plete system of water-works, having mains running to all parts of the city, an 
efficient fire department, two excellent lines of street railways, superior ferry 
accommodation to Sarnia, Ontario, handsome brick school l)uildings, under 
the control of a board of education and officered by efficient teachers, costly 
churches, a handsome new opera house, city hall, custom hous6 and post office, 
ai"e some of the public improvements and institutions that adorn the city. Large, 
handsome and convenient brick blocks, occupied by prosperous and wealthy 
business men, line the principal thoroughfares, and broad streets and avenues, 
studded with handsome residences, surrounded by well-kept gardens and lined 
with stately shade trees that shelter the pedestrian from the scorching sun of 
summer, while the cool breez-es from the broad space of Huron's blue waters 
murmur lovingly among their branches, lends a charm to the suburban 
retreats of this delightful city, that to be appreciated nnist be enjoyed. 

For the benefit of those w^ho live at a distance and who cannot personally 
investigate the numerous advantages, commercial, social and otherwise which 
this article has endeavored to depict, Ave add the names of a few of the mo.st 
prominent and wealthy citizens and oldest inhabitants of this city, who will 
be pleased to an.sAver any cn(iuiries respecting building sites, etc., that those 



42 THE LAKE PORTS. 



desirous of locating in this city may desire to ask: Mayor Boj'ce, Hon. 
D. B. Harrington, banker; Trustees Sanborn Estate, Messrs. Howard & Son, 
lumber merchants, Edgar White, Esq., O'Brien J. Atkinson, E.sq., William 
Stewart, Esq., and John Johnson, Esq., banker, either of whom will promptly 
answer any communications addressed to them. 



HURON HOUSE. 



X'ORT HURON, MICH. 



This handsome and commodious hotel occupies a prominent position on 
Huron avenue, and few western houses can boast so handsome an exterior, 
and the present owner and proprietor, Mr. W. Ames, has used every means 
in his power to render the internal arrangements equal to those of any hotel 
in the west, and his praiseworthy efforts h^ve not been in vain, for a more com- 
fortal)le bed than is furnished to the weary traveler cannot be desired; and 
the most epicurean taste must perforce admit that the tables are spread right 
royally with the best of fare the markets afford. The office and public sit- 
ting room, a large, light and airy apartment, occupies the front of the first 
floor ; next follows the bar, Avhich is plentifulh^ stocked with the best and 
most popular wines and liquors; adjoining this is the billiard room, si.xty- 
eight feet long by twenty feet wide, in which are five first-class tables and 
furniture manufactured by Schulcnburg of Detroit. The second floor is oc- 
cupied by the parlors and best bed-rooms, and these apartments are furnished 
with a degree of luxurj- and elegance that is rarely to be met with outside 
our larger cities. This popular hotel was rebuilt of red brick, finished in 
stone, tlie upper stories being supported by handsomely fluted iron pillars, 
surmounted by massive capitals of elegant design. It contains a large 
number of rooms furnished in the most magnific;ent manner. Few 
cities in ^Michigan can boast a better appointed hotel in every respect 
than the Huron House, or one affording better convenience to the traveling 
pul)lic. Two lines of street cars pass the house several timesa day connecting 
with the Grand Trunk Railway at Fort Gratiot, and the Chicago & Lake Huron 
Railroad, and the ferry communication between Sarnia, Ont., and Port 
Huron is within five minutes walk of the hotel. As a summer resort Port 
Huron is deservedly popular. The cool and refreshing breezes that constant- 
ly blow off Lake Huron, together with the admirable facilities afforded for 
fishing and boating on the beautiful St. Clair River, makes it the rendezvous 
of numerous tourists. And now that the Huron House has obtained so much 
popularity through the skill and persev(;rance of its worthy proprietor, tliere 
is little doubt that this charming neigliborhood will before long become a 
popular suuimer resort. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 43 



WM. STEWART & CO. 

WHOLESALE AND KKTAIL HAHnNVVKK M KIU'IIANTS. 

lu the year 1849, when most, of tin- l»usiiicss interests of Michigan west of 
Detroit wore in their infancy, and laying the foundation of the vast manu- 
facturing and commercial industries that now add brilliancy to the annals of 
the Peninsular State, Wm. Stewart embarked in the hardware business in 
partnership with David McCall. Although the firm possessed none of the 
gigantic proportions at its start that adorn it to-day it was the only one of its 
kind in the county and consequently enjoyed not only a large inland trade 
but derived a large share of its support from the vessels that navigated the St. 
Clair River on their passage to the various Lake Huron and Superior ports. 
The premises first occupied by the firm was a frame building on Military 
street. The partnership formed with Mr. McCall was destined to be of short 
duration, terminating at the end of one year, when Mr. Stewart purchased 
a part of the Tontine building and conducted his business alone for the suc- 
ceeding four years. From this, as his business increased, necessitating more 
convenient premises, he removed to the corner of Water street, purchasing 
the Hatton property, where two years later Mr. John Miller became asso- 
ciated with him in the business. This partnership, like the former, con- 
tinued but one year. From this time until 1861 Mr. Stewart continued the 
sole propi-ietor, and under his skilful management it rapidly increased in ex- 
tent and popularity until still more extensive premises l)ecame an absolute 
necessity. Recognizing this fact, he purchased the valual)le property on the 
north side of Military street, west of Water street, and built the handsome 
red brick stores now occupied by the present firm. Four years after he took 
possession of his new stores, Messrs. P. B. Sanborn and Ezra C. Carlton, 
both gentlemen possessing an enviable reputation as thoroughly reliable and 
trustworthy business men, became associated with him as partners. By 
the united energy of these gentlemen this mammoth house has extended its 
trade throughout the greater part of Eastern Michigan, and to the indomita 
ble pluck of this house may be attributed the origin and rapid growth of the 
wholesale trade of Port Huron. Mr. Stewart's business career has few 
parallels in the annals of commercial success. Commencing in a new coun- 
try, with a small capital, and contending with unflinching energy and will 
with all the mercantile disasters that invaded the rising merchant of those 
early days he succeeded not only in surmounting all obstacles, but did so 
without compromising his commercial honor or failing to meet any obliga- 
tion. Enjoying a handsome competency, the fruits of his unceasing labor' 
and careful management, he has retired from active co-operation in the pros- 
perous business he established more than a quarter of a century ago. But 
the acknowhidged integrity and ability of the active partners, IVIessrs. 



44 THE LAKE PORTS. 



Sanborn & Caui/fon, are sufficient guarantees that the princely house of San- 
born, Carlton & Co. will continue to hold its own and merit increased 
patronage. 



Stewart Hardware House. 

William Stewart, )_ Peter B. Sanborn, ) General 

Special. ) P:zra C. Carlton, t Partners. 

SANBORN, CARLTON & CO., 

SHIP CHANDLERS AND HARDWARE MERCHANTS, 

IRON, NAILS, STOVES, 

Plumbers and Steam Fitters, 

TIN AND COPPER WORKS. 

Stewart Block, 8 & 10 Military St., PORT HURON, MICH. 



HULL & BOYCE, GENERAL HARDWARE. 

This well known house is one of the most reliable and oldest establish- 
ments devoted to this trade west of Detroit. It was first started bj- the senior 
pailner in 1856. The present firm has existed since 1870 ; increasing with the 
growth of the country, it has extended its trade throughout the greater portion 
of Northern Michigan. Port Huron being the chief mart for the surround- 
, ing agricultural districts, as well as an important lake port, alfords pecidiar 
advantages for the successful operation of this branch of commerce. This 
house handles large quantities of heavy hardware, builders' materials, agri- 
cultural implements, marine hardware, mechanics' tools, cutlery, stoves, etc., 
and their extensive stock is one of the most complete and carefully selected in 
the state. Mr. Hull, who has always been actively prominent in all that 
pertains to the welfare and advancement of the city, was elected to the office 
of city treasurer for the years 1869-70, and Mr. Boyce was elected to the 
mayorality in 1870, and now occupies the same honorable position. These 
gentlemen are deservedly esteemed as leading spirits in all things pertaining 
to the public weal ; and as merchants their characters for integrity and fair 
dealing is unsullied. 

HULL & BOYCE, 

Dealers in 

HARDWARE, STOVES, FARMING IMPLEMENTS, &c. 
Military Street, Port Huron, Mich. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 45 



JOHN R. TAYLOR'S 

ir.viuiw.viiE HOUSE, niruoN avenue, pout uuron. 

Five years a^o Mi'- Tayi.ok started Ijusiness in Port Huron, in a store on 
Military street, but as his trade developed it became necessary for him to 
obtain more convenient quarters, which he did on Water street, occupying a 
large and convenient store in the Miami Block. Since his first commence- 
ment he has been a prosperous merchant, and yearly additions to the various 
lines of goods he carries indicate that he has always lieen up to the times. 
Some months since he suffered severely from a heavy tire Avhich devasted the 
Miami Block and destroyed the greater part of his valuable stock. But noth- 
ing daunted, he at once re-stocked with everything needed either by the 
farmer or the ship-owner in the way of hardware, and may now be found 
doing a steady but profitable business at 26 Huron avenue. Mr. Taylor is a 
native of New York State, his father being for several terms mayor of 
Albany, New York. He was for many years in the brewery business and the 
original manufacturer of the celebrated Albany ale. 

Mr. J. R. Taylor is a thoroughly practical man in his business, having been 
identified with it from boyhood, and those needing anything in his line will 
be sure to get a good article at reasonable figures. Mr. Taylor is an active 
member of the Port Huron Guards, and for some time occupied the position 
of captain of this well disciplined company. 



John R. Tavl-OR^ 

WHOLESALE AND REIAIL DEALER IN 

HARD^AT.^RE, 
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, 

Steam and Copper Work, 
MARINE AND SHIP CHANDLEUY, 

26 Huron Avenue, Port Huron, Mich. 



46 THE LAKE PORTS. 



S. L BALLEIMTINE. 

]\I('i-chiuits embarking in business in a new country are almost certain of 
success, if the enterprise engusicd in is one of continued su]iply and demand, 
and like the grocery and provision business, the boot and shoe and dry goods 
trade, is one in which the demand never ceases. Ten years ago Mr. S. L. 
Ballentine commenced business in conjunction with his brother the late 
D. Ballentine. in the red brick store at the southwest corner of Quay street 
and Huron avenue. From early boyhood he had lieen employed on the same 
premises as clerk until, in the latter part of 1865, he was admitted to partuei-- 
ship with his former employers, Messrs. C. P. Noyes & Co. About a year 
after that this lirm dissolved, and, as has been before stated, the Ballentine 
Brothers succeeded to the business. By strict application and careful invest- 
ments they rapidly succeeded in commanding not only a large retail trade, 
but a very extensvie wholesale business. Three j^ears ago, after the fire 
which destroj^ed the premises on the southeast corner of Huron avenue and 
Quay street, Mr. Ballentine built three handsome red brick stores, having a 
frontage of over one hundred and twenty feet, three stories high and base- 
ment. This block is one of the handsomest in the city. The stores, two of 
which are occupied by Mr. B., are large and superbly fitted up with every 
modern improvement, and the exterior constructed of red brick with stone 
facings, supported by massive iron columns of elaborate designs, large plate 
glass windows of unusual size and thickness, gives a commanding appearance 
to the entire building. The upper floors are handsomely finished in stained 
pine, are large and well heated and ventilated, and are occupied as oflices. 
The entire block is heated by steam. Occupying a prominent position in the 
center of the city, these stores add materially to its beauty and importance. 
The cost of the block was $30,000, and the citizens may be justly proud of a 
man who contributes so largely in building up the commercial interests of their 
city. Mr. Ballentine carries a large and carefully selected stock of dry goods 
and boots and shoes, and vessel men, when stopping at this port, will do well 
to pay him a visit. 



S. L. B ALLEN TINE, 

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in 

DRY GOODS, BOOTS & SHOES, HATS & CAPS, 

TEAS A SPECIALTY. 

Ballentine's Block, Huron Ave. and Quay St. , Pokt Huron, Mich. 



THE T,AK.E PORTS. 47 



MOFFAT & SON'S TUG LINE. 

Tliirty-live years ago Port Ihiroii was of such litUc iinj)ortaiH'e lliat the 
•' Tug" business was a scarcely recognized interest, but with tlie growth and 
settlement of the country in the Lake Superior regions, and the development 
of its mineral resources, this jiort rose rapidly in all branches of maritime 
commerce. In 18G4 the lake traltic had increased to an enormous extent, and 
every available craft was busily «'mployed. At this time Mr. Jas. Moffat, 
llu' founder and ownci' (^f the ferry line between this port and Sarnia, 
Out., embarked in the tugging business, in conjunction with Mr. Elliott 
Brock way and Mr. John 8. Botsford, and built the " Kate Moffat," a trim 
boat of about one hundred and fifty tons burthen ; for three years this boat 
was busily engaged in towing vessels and rafts between lakes Huron and 
Erie, under the command of Mr. Moffat. This venture proving a source of 
considerable emolument to the owners, they decided to add another boat to 
their line, and in the spring of 1867 the " Geo. Brockway " was launched. In 
1870, owing to increased demand, the tug "Frank Moffat," wais built and 
placed in commission; and in 1878 the "Mocking Bird," ])ronounced by 
sailing men to be the best and fastest tug on the lakes, was added to the line. 
Mr. Jas. Moffat, the principal owner and controller of this renowned tug line, 
has always made it his aim to perform his duty to his employers to the letter, 
often disadvantageously to himself, and this, with the known superiority of 
his boats, has secured to him hosts of friends and an extensive patronage. 
During the past three years the fearful depression in all kinds of business, 
especially the shipping interests, has compelled many tug owners to lay up 
their boats before the season was half over, and in many instances they w^ere 
not fitted out at all, but these boats, during the dullest times, were always out 
and employed. Vessel owners and masters will do well to secure the services 
of these admirable boats, in their passage between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. 
The forwarding and commission business in all our principal lake ports 
forms a large feature in the make up of their business .success, and the well 
known firm of Moffat & Co., of this city, bears out the assertion. This 
business was started about seven years ago by Mr. A. N. Moffat, son of the 
pioneer feiTy ow^ner, Mr. James Moffat. Like all other new enterprises in a 
rising neighborhood, only a small capital was invested at the outset, but as 
the liberal terms and superior advantages offered to consignors and shippers 
became more widely known, increased capital and improved facilities for 
warehousing, shipping, etc., were added until to-day this house is one of the 
largest representative establishments in the business north of Detroit. Their 
offices, warehouses and dock are conveniently located at the foot of Sarnia 
Street, Port Huron. In addition to, and in connection with the above busi- 
ness this firm are agents for the principal lake and river steamers, the "North- 
ern Transit Company." "Ward's Lake Superior Line," and the "Star 



48 THE LAKE PORTS. 



Line," being the principal ones. Tlie house also deals largely in pressed hay, 
grain, salt, land plaster, cement, oil, flour, pork, beef, hams, shoulders, lard, 
ship supplies, and always having on hand a stock the superior quality of 
which may be relied on. 

Merchants, manufacturers, traders, farmers and others requiring the ser- 
vices of a thoroughly reliable forwrarding house should not fail to place them- 
selves in communication with these gentlemen. The greatest care is always 
taken of goods entrusted to them as forwarders ; all unnecessary delays are 
avoided, and when it does occur their large and convenient warerooms 
afford security and shelter unequaled by any house in the city. Those con- 
signing goods to this house in their capacity of commission merchants can be 
satisfied that the best current prices will always be obtained ; and all requir- 
ing information or advice pertaining to any bi-anch of this extensive business 
may rely upon any representations made by them. Mr. A. N. Moffat, the 
senior partner, is a young man of ability and .strict integrity, and having 
been reared in the business from boyhood, has acquired such an intimate 
knowledge of its various departments that the utmost reliance may be placed 
in his representations. 

MOFFAT & CO., 

FORWARDERS & COMMISSION MERCHANTS, 

AGENCY OF THE PRINCIPAL 

LAKE AND RIVER STEAMERS. 

DEALERS IN 

Coal, Pressed Hay, Grain, Salt, Land Plaster, 
cement, oil, boat supplies, etc. 

Jas. Moffat & Son, 

Managers Tugs Mocking Bird, Brockway and Frank Moffat, 

Warehouse, Office and Dock: 
Foot of Sarklv Street, PORT HURON, MICH. 



NBVS/HALL HOUSE 



MILWAUKEE, WIS., 



Largest and Best Hotel in the State. 
Great Rcdnction in Rates, 

Rooms loitli Board, $2.00, $2.50 and $3.00 per Day. 
J. F. Antisdel, Proprietor. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 




HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW 

Of the Lakes — Rivers — Islands — Cities — Toiuns — Watering Places — 
Fisheries — Vessels — Steamers — Captains — Disasters — Early 
Navigators — Mineral Wealth — Trade — Cheap Transportation — 
Commerce^ etc., etc. 

i^HE extent and volume of the bodies of water that form these 
inland seas is so extensive as to exceed, the comprehension 
of many minds, unless the subject has been closely investi- 
gated. Under the above designation is included Lake Superior, 
containing an area of thirty-two thousand square miles ; Lake 
Michigan, twenty-two thousand ; Lake Huron, twenty thousand 
five hundred; and Lake Erie, nine thousand seven hundred; 
including Green Bay on Lake Michigan, and the Georgian Bay 
on Lake Huron, the latter being on the Canadian side of the line 
that divides the Dominion of Canada from the United States. 

The straits which form the connecting links and outlets to these 
vast bodies of water are the St. Mary's river, which unites Lakes 
Superior and Huron, and divides the upper peninsula of Michigan 
from Canada; the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lakes 
Michigan and Huron, and forms the natural and political bound- 
ary between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan; the St. 
Clair river, connecting Lakes Huron and St. Clair, and constituting 
the dividing line between the United States and Canada; and the 
Detroit river, which has its rise at the northwest corner of Lake St. 
Clair and empties itself into Lake Erie, and continuing to form the 
boundary line between the two countries. These noble rivers are 
all navigable streams, and are able, in conjunction with the ship 
canal at the Sault Ste. Marie, of floating vessels of over two thou- 
sand tons burden from Chicago to Buffalo, a distance of twelve 
hundred miles. At this point navigation, for a large class of 
vessels, ceases, but, by the construction of additional canal com- 
munication and the enlarging of those already in operation, a direct 

4 9 



50 THE LAKE PORTS. 



connection between the great lakes and European ports would be 
effected, that would materially increase the already enormous com- 
merce of these waters, and confer on the American and Cana- 
dian people incalculable benefit; for it would create one continued 
line of sea ports, from which could be shipped at a low rate all the 
agricultural and mineral wealth of a vast region of country rich with 
all the products that go to make nations wealthy, and at the same 
time provide profitable employment to thousands of laborers both 
on land and water. 

As an object of common interest, and which is of as much 
importance to individuals as to the two great powers which it 
divides, this public highway of the seas should be carefully guarded, 
so that no impediments may interfere with free and open navigation 
from the upper lakes to the St. Lawrence. Fortunately, by a 
late decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, these large 
bodies of water were declared to be inland seas, both legally and 
commercially, and Congress under this decision has greatly improved 
many of the harbors of the lakes and connecting rivers, in the same 
manner and under the same authority that it does those on the sea- 
board; it has led to a vigorous maintenance of federal authority, in 
providing for the safety of commerce and guarding the channels of 
communication from any kind of obstruction. 

The states washed by these great bodies of water are New York, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Their 
united area is upwards of ninety thousand square miles, draining a 
surface of nearly four hundred thousand square miles of territory, 
situated for the most part on the northern confines of the temperate 
zone. 

All the lake cities and towns, as well as those on the Mississippi 
and Atlantic seaboard, should take a deep interest in the preserva- 
tion of free and uninterrupted navigation on the great lakes, for, 
notwithstanding the immense shipping interests involved, it ha? been 
proposed by certain moneyed interests to bridge both the Detroit 
and St. Clair rivers at various points, for the assumed purpose of 
affording quick transit from the West to the Atlantic seaboard. 
Latterly the agitation has been confined to the Detroit river; but 
through the strenuous exertions of those interested in lake naviga- 
tion the project is, for the time being, abandoned; and should the 
tunnel scheme, which meets with much popular sympathy, be carried 
out, the vexed question of bridging this noble stream will be forever 
answered. This object, if it had ever been attained, would have so 
far injured lake navigation for all future time, as to have placed an 
insurmountable obstacle in the way of commerce, that would irrepa- 
rably have injured both the producer and consumer of western 
America, and only benefited the individual members of speculative 
corporations. 

During the past iew years it has been most forcibly demonstrated 
that by means of lake and river transportation millions of money 




> • '^fllJff^^Tfifimp^^^^^^ 







^<^^, 






M 



Beebe House— l»ut-iii Bay. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



can be saved, when compared to the necessarily high rates charged 
by railroad companies — which have, and are still, heavily taxing 
the industries of the country, and being largely instrumental in 
causing the high prices which are charged for most of the necessaries 
of life. 

At the present day, the voyager, in sailing from the American 
shore to Europe or Asia, or on making a circuit of the globe, pur- 
sues an almost trackless path across the broad ocean, without being 
in sight of land for the greater part of the distance. But such is not 
the case in sailing on the great lakes of America — which form all 
together the largest expanse of fresh water on the face of the earth. 
And although we have none of the marvelous legends about the 
leviathans of the deep and other wonderful stories, fabricated by the 
imaginative brains of veritable salt water "Jack Tars," we have the 
Indian traditions, equal in coloring and poetry of language to the 
far-famed romances of Eastern climes. Lake Superior, the Gitchcc 
Guinmce of the Chippewas, is rich in Indian narrative. Every grove 
that slopes gently down to its edge, and every rock that towers aloft 
in native majesty to heaven, is made to speak the praises of this 
lovely region. 

But our task consists in rendering a plain, unvarnished account 
of the objects that surround these inland seas, made famous by their 
extent, pure air and water, picturesque islands, cultivated shores, and 
rich deposits of various kinds of mineral — and that, too, in such 
abundance as to far exceed the productions of other parts of the 
world, both in richness of ore and the extent and variety of the 
deposits. Here iron, copper and silver are annually produced in 
marvelous quantities, giving employment to many thousand miners 
and others. 

The field occupied by these enormous mineral deposits is illimita- 
ble, covering portions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Northern 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, while the Dominion of Canada possesses 
large tracts as yet but partially developed. Added to these, the 
value of the fisheries and the lumber trade, and these lake regions 
possess wealth enough to enrich nations. 

In addition to these, the healthy and invigorating climate of the 
upper lakes invest this region with advantages which the ancients 
would have designated as the abode of the gods, and esteemed the 
very rocks as natural deities. Indeed, the poetic mind of the Indian 
has already clothed these regions with mystic lore and pronounced 
its mountain tops as the favorite resorts of the Great Spirit. 

When it is remembered that the far-famed Niagara river and 
cataract has no equal in the world, and that the smallest of these 
upper lakes exceeds in extent that of any other body of fresh water on 
the globe, that Lake Superior covers an area of upwards of thirty thou- 
sand square miles, with a depth of one thousand feet near its center, 
and standing at an elevation of six hundred feet above the ocean, into 
which it flows through the noble river St. Lawrence, and thence into 
the gulf of the same name, its outlet bearing several different names 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



5j 



before it enters the main stream among the "Thousand Islands," 
these grand and stuj^endous monuments of nature's handiwork, 
must, perforce, impress all minds with their glorious beauty, and 
excite the admiration of the most stoical. 

The principal rapids on the St. Lawrence, after j^assing Lake 
Ontario, are known as the Long Sault, Coteau, Cedar, Cascade and 
a La Chein, while the expansions are called Lakes St. Francis, St. 
l,ouis and St. Peter. It also receives the Ottawa and Saguenay 
Rivers, and several other considerable streams, all of which, accumu- 
lated, join one majestic stream, flowing grandly down to the briney 
ocean beyond. The tide waters extend a short distance above the 
City of Quebec. 

The foregoing brief sketch of lake and river combined, shows 
the magnitude and grandeur of the whole system of internal com- 
munication with the lake ports that within half a century have 
sprung up on their shores, and which constitutes the great natural 
system of drainage to the vast territory surrounding, affording the 
most complete and desirable outlet for the products of the great 
North-west, as well as the Dominion of Canada ; for by means of 
ship canals ocean vessels are able to ascend fifteen hundred miles 
above tide water, to the head of Lake Superior on the west, and 
Lake Michigan on the south, where stand two rival cities of modern 
date. 

The many cities and villages which have sprung into existence, 
as if by magic, along the shores of these lakes and rivers, as well as 
on the banks of tributary streams, are equally marvellous as the 
mighty waters which cover such an extent of territory, and which at 
the first, were the cause of their existence and the ultimate source 
of their wonderful prosperity. A greater part of this country, lying 
as it does within the temperate zone, is susceptible of settlement and 
a high state of cultivation, enjoying in equal proportion the four 
seasons of the year. Indeed, there are few countries enjoys so 
varied and healthful a climate as the one we have endeavored 
briefly to describe ; and in it all the divine workings of the Creator 
are forcibly apparent. Air, water and sunshine are blended so as to 
invigorate the human frame and make life pleasurable, even among 
its most trying vicissitudes. The very animals are formed so as to 
meet the changing seasons with comfort, being warmly clad in winter 
with their furry robes, which they shed as the balmy days of sum- 
mer approach. Passing from summer to winter, in the region of 
the Great Lakes a climatic change takes place, of which it is hard 
to conceive and more difficult to describe ; here the secret workings 
of nature have to be grappled with by the ingenuity of man, and 
continued observation reveals more astonishing truths than the 
ancients, with all their flights of imagination and poetic fiction, were 
able to conceive. Summer, with its sun and showers, brings its 
reward for weeks of patient waiting among ice bound lakes and 
rivers, in the shape of the richest productions of the vegetable 
world; and winter performs its duty designed by nature in keeping 



54 THE LAKE PORTS. 



ever pure the waters which refresh during the warmer portions of 
the year, making the lakes the great refrigerators of the surrounding 
country. 

The records of the early history and discoveries are very vague 
and uncertain. The object of the first European explorers was not so 
much the discovery of new regions beyond the setting sun, as the 
acquirement of wealth, extravagant stories of which the first discov- 
erers of gold on this continent spread through the Eastern world. 
About the same time many scientific men were devoting all their 
energies and wealth in the discovery of the Philosopher's Stone 
and other equally ridiculous pursuits. Hence we read that De Soto, 
while seeking for gold and fountains of water that should prolong 
human life and make man immortal, reached the banks of the 
turbid Mississippi, near the mouth of the Arkansas river, there 
to die and be buried in the hot sands that lined its banks, while his 
followers proceeded southward in hopes of preserving their lives. 

But at a later period a higher and better motive inspired men's 
minds to visit the great lake regions of America. Pere Marcjuette, 
with the spirit of a true discoverer, and having at heart the good of 
the aborigonies, by whom he was looked upon as a god, wandered 
along the shores of these inland seas, when hearing of the "Great 
Mississippi," he extended his travels, reaching De Soto's upper 
stream, which he descended several hundred miles, but being in- 
formed by the natives that the country was inhabited by hostile 
bands, returned to the shores of Lake Michigan, near the mouth of 
the present Marquette river, on the 17th day of March, 1675. 

Father Marquette was the first real explorer of the Mississippi, 
and after De Soto the first white man who beheld it. The travels 
and death of this great man clearly demonstrate that man's designs 
seldom reach the goal to which they aspire. Marquette's object was 
the conversion to Christianity the tribes of savages who peopled this 
vast territory and the aggrandizement of his king, but instead of this 
he opened to the world the gigantic commerce of half the globe, and 
discovered a home for the growth and development of an indei)endent 
people greater than the Roman Empire. 

Looking into the dim future, the lovely shores and headlands, 
with the numerous wooded islands, which adorn the lakes, now 
mostly uninhabited and over which the stillness of quiet nature hushed 
to slumber in its primeval glory, wakes no answering echoes to the 
woodman's ax or builder's hammer, the day is not far distant when 
man, either from choice or necessity, will transform these sylvan 
retreats of nature's choicest possessions into busy cities, and the 
Thames, the Seine, the Rhine and Danube, with their miles of 
wharves and forests of masts, their lordly mansions and castellated 
edifices will be reproduced in these portions of this our favored 
country. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 55 



THE NATURAL TERRACES AND TABLE LANDS 

which abound on the borders of the great hikes, as well as on the 
banks of tlie tributary rivers, afford delightful sites for cities, villages 
and country residences. Several of these exist in succession on the 
shores of Lake Superior, while the ^me geographical features are 
recognized on the beautiful wooded islands of Michipicoten and 
Grand Island, or the Gitchee Munising of the Chippewas. Both 
these lovely spots promise at some future day to become favorite 
summer resorts ; the latter more especially, as it is in the immediate 
vicinity of the " Pictured Rocks." 

The Island of Mackinac, the garden of the upper lakes, is 
already the favorite resort of the afflicted and those in quest of 
pleasure ; rising terrace on terrace, it is elevated from one to three 
hundred feet above the pure waters of the Straits of Mackinac, and 
will always attract the attention of "the refined and wealthy. 

Duluth and Superior City, the one situated on a rising ascent 
and the other on a slightly elevated plateau or terrace at the head 
of Lake Superior, are important and growing cities, and give promise 
of being the northern neuclus of the commerce of this region. 

Bayfield, protected by the Apostle Isles, and lying on a large and 
secure bay, rises by two or three terraces to an elevation overlooking 
one of the most extensive and grandest scenes of Lake Superior, 
extending northward through a labyrinth of islands, and southward 
across Chaquamegon Bay, where the entire fleet of the lakes might 
lay in safety. 

Ashland, at the head of the bay, occupies the most elevated 
terrace, while the water front is improved by steamboat landings and 
railroad depots. 

Keweenaw Point, from Eagle River to Portage Lake, consists of 
numerous terraces, many of which are already occupied by thriving 
villages, inhabited by sturdy miners, employed in the copper mines 
for which this section is famous. 

Marquette, the " Iron City " of Superior, is another beautiful 
town, situated on three distinct natural terraces, rising some two 
hundred feet above the lake. The surrounding waters are, during 
the season of navigation, enlivened by every class of commercial 
vessel, as well as the sail boat of pleasure, while the fisherman's craft 
may be seen pursuing its avocation in the far distance. At night the 
scene is enlivened by the numerous light-houses along the coast and 
the fiery blaze from the blast furnaces of the surrounding country. 

Munising, lying on Green Bay, is situated on a low terrace, while 
immediately behind rises an abrupt hill, forming an elevated plateau, 
from which descends a silvery stream of sparkling water. This 
whole lake front, or the main land extending east to Miner's Castle, 
rises by terraces of steep ascent until the " Pictured Rocks " are 
reached ; then an abrupt precipice with beetling crags and caves is 
to be seen, which may safely be approached in calm weather, but 
should be shunned by the mariner during severe storms. 



SCENERY OF THE GREAT LAKES. 




Morning among tlie Thousand Islands. 



iT'^i'i'i'iiJijjg^g^ ^S-l^ES ^^S 











_.,.w-?»^,-. 



^'X- -,a^^. 




Clilcago to Quebec— Tlie Steamer Descending Liacliiue Rapids. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 57 



The banks of the River St. Mary, or strait connecting Lakes 
Superior and Huron, are terraced near the rapids, Avhere stands the 
ancient and roniantic settlement of the Sault Ste. Marie. St. 
Joseph island, belonging to Canada, is an elevated table land of 
great extent, rising gradually above the water's edge. 

The terraces formed by the Detroit and St. Clair rivers are most 
beautiful when compared with the low lands adjacent to Lake St. 
Clair, where extensive marshes abound. For the most part the 
heavy forest timber is cut down along the banks of these streams 
forming the outlet to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan, while in 
}he background much of the original oak, hickory and other trees 
of the primeval forest remain. Detroit occupies an especially fine 
terrace, sloping gradually down to the shores of the river. Lake 
Erie, on its southeastern shores, i)resents very many fine elevations, 
where grapes, peaches and other fruits are cultivated in rich abund- 
ance, as well as on the lovely group of islands which adorns its 
western terminus. The terrace on which the city of Cleveland 
stands is elevated about one hundred feet above the waters of the 
lake, and is one of the most beautiful to be found on all the waters 
of the upper lakes, while many other localities are nearly equally 
favored. The city of Buffalo is located on a gently rising terrace, 
and is unequaled for its healthy situation, convenience and beauty. 



EARLY NAVIGATIOIM. 

The sailing vessel occupies an important place in the history of 
all nations. It is the offspring of antiquity, and its home was in the 
valley of the Nile and the sunny waters of the Mediterranean sea. 
It may of a truth be styled the cradle of discovery, for through its 
agency man discovered new worlds and peopled them, and found 
untraveled paths along the mighty deep, that led to stores of untold 
wealth now utilized by industrious and wealthy nations. 

Formerly the only means of traversing the great lakes and rivers 
of this continent was the Indian bark canoe, and later the bateau 
and Mackinac boat, as constructed by the early French voyageurs. 
Next came the sailing craft, wafted by favorable breezes over the 
larger bodies of water, or towed and poled along the banks of the 
river by the force of human strength. The fur traders and early 
Jesuits, discoverers, were the first pale faces to adopt this mode of 
navigation. 

AH early writers of Lake history agree that the name of the first 
sail vessel which ever floated the lakes was the (jriffin, which was built 
on the Niagara, six miles above the falls, and set sail on the 7th of Au- 
gust 1679, in command of the chevalier De La Salle, with a crew of 
six persons all told, bound for Mackinac, which j)lace she reached and 
in a few weeks started on her return voyage, laden with furs. This 
is the last known of her, although it is asserted that the crew and outfit 



58 THE LAKE PORTS. 



of the vessel was saved; which statement however is most positively 
contradicted by the best authority; it may here be noted as the first 
marine disaster that was ever recorded as occurring on the lakes. For 
a period of eighty-seven years no mention is made of the movements 
of any craft sailing the great lakes, although it is not to be supposed that 
so long a time elapsed without others being built and operated. In 
the latter part of the year 1769 four vessels, named respectively the 
Gladwin, Lady Charlotte, Victory, and Boston, were navigating the 
lakes. 

On Lake Ontario, the first vessel of which any record is left was set 
afloat in 1789. She was built at Sodus Bay, by Capt. John Fellows, 
a native of Sheffield, Mass.; her first cargo consisted of tea and tobacco. 

The first merchant brig introduced upon the lakes was named the 
Union. She was built in 1814 ; her capacity was ninety-six tons. Being 
found too large for the business requirements of that period she was 
for a time laid up. 

The first full rigged ship on the lakes was built at Buffalo, by Col. 
Alanson Palmer in 1836, and named the Julia Palmer. She was of 
about three hundred tons burden. Proving inadequate for the trade, 
she was at a later date converted into a steamer, and was afterward 
lost during a storm on Lake Superior. 

The first vessel to Chicago was the schooner Gen. Tracey, of 
about ninety tons burden ; she was built at Detroit about the year 1800; 
she sailed for Chicago in 1803, having on board a company of soldiers, 
under the command of Col. Sweaniegen ; on her passage she called at 
St. Joseph and other points. She became a total wreck and was lost 
on Fort Erie reef in the year 1809. Chicago at this time had but one 
white man's dwelling, that of an Indian trader. 

Between the years 1800 and 1810 several large schooners navigated 
Lake Superior in the service of the Hudson Bay and American Fur 
companies ; one, named the Recovery, belonging to the British North- 
western Company, was one of these. On the breaking out of the 
Patriot war, fears were entertained for its safety, and it is said that 
its preservation was accomplished by stratagem. In one of the deep 
and narrow bays on the northeast end of Isle Royal, which was then 
within the jurisdiction of the British, this vessel was secreted ; after 
having her spars taken out, she was entirely covered up with boughs 
and brushwood. After the termination of hostilities between the 
two nations, she was brought out and again placed in commission. 
After this she was run over the St. Marie Rapids and placed in the 
lumber trade on Lake Erie, under command of Captain Fellows. 
The fragments of this adventurous bark were for a long time visible 
near Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo. 

The schooner Mink was also employed in the Lake Superior fur 
trade previous to the war. She was afterward, for several years, 
emi^loyed on Lake Erie, under the command of Capt. Tom Ham- 
mond, an officer who had previously served in Perry's fleet. After 
having performed good service for several years, she was sunk in the 
River Rouge, just below Detroit. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 59 



Another schooner, whose name is unknown, and which was also 
employed in the fur trade on Lake Superior, undertook to i)ass down 
the rapids, but in so doing struck on a rock and went to pieces. 

From this time until 1822 Lake Superior was navigated only by 
one solitary sail, a small craft that subsequently passed down the 
rapids and was soon lost sight of among the young fleet then sjjring- 
ing up on the lower lakes. 

In 1834 the fur business revived, and the American Fur Company 
issued orders for the building and equipping of a large vessel for the 
Lake Superior trade. Ramsey Crooks and O. Newberry, of Detroit, 
undertook the matter. She was named the Ramsey Crooks, and when 
ready for service the command was entrusted to Capt. Charles C. 
Stanard. 

The Astor, the first American schooner launched upon Lake 
Superior, was built by the American Fur Company in the summer of 
1835. Her frame timbers and plank were prepared at Charleston, 
O., in the fall of 1834, and sliipped on board the schooner Bridget in 
April, 1835, and arrived at Sault St. Marie on the ist of May. The 
timbers were then carried to the head of the rapids, where the Astor 
was built. She was launched on the ist of August, and sailed for La 
Pointe on the 15th of the same month. She was under the command 
of Capt. Stanard, who discovered the celebrated rock that has since 
excited so much curiosity and has been so great a source of annoy- 
ance to the navigators of Lake Superior. The Astor was wrecked 
off Copper Head, September 21st, 1844. 

The American Fur Company had two small vessels built, of about 
twenty tons each, in the year 1837, one of which was so poorly 
constructed that it was never launched. The other, the Madeline, 
was sailed by Captain Angus, and was employed principally in the 
fishing trade. 

In 1838 the same company built the schooner William Brewster, 
of seventy-three tons. She was launched some time in August, and 
sailed some time in September, under the command of Captain John 
P. Wood. In September, 1842, they supposing she would rot before 
she could pay for herself on Lake Superior, she was run down the 
rapids, and subsequently put in commission on Lake Erie. 

The fleet on Lake Superior previous to the opening of the ship 
canal was composed of the following: steamboat Julia Palmer, two 
hundred and eighty tons ; propeller Independence, two hundred and 
eighty tons; schooner Napoleon, one hundred and eighty tons; 
Algonquin, Swallow and Merchant, about seventy tons each ; Uncle 
Tom, Chippewa, Fur Trader, Siskowit, forty tons; and White Fish, 
fifty tons. 

Although sail vessels for a long time were the only available 
medium for water transportation, their prestige in this country was 
of short duration. With the introduction of steam as a motive 
power, as applied to navigation, the vocation of the sailing vessel 
was almost entirely destroyed. Man is the ruler of the steamboat; 
it depends upon him for its every movement, while the sailing vessel, 



Go THE LAKE PORTS. 



on the other hand, depends entirely upon the good offices of the 
wind, that invisible and mysterious force which has its origin with 
the Omniscient. History informs us that the first steamboat on this 
side the Atlantic was the Clermont, built by Robert Fulton, in 1807, 
near Hurlgate, on East River, N. Y. She was forty feet long, flat- 
bottomed, and drew twenty-two inches of water. Her wheels 
were extended below the bottom of the boat; a fly wheel was attached 
to the paddle wheel, having a rim four inches wide, which was to 
make the paddle wheel pass the center without jerking. There was 
a large hub inside the boat, into which the shaft fitted. 

The first steamer that sailed the great lakes was the Walk-in-the- 
Water. She was built opposite Stjuaw Island, on the Niagara river, 
below Black Rock, and was one hundred and thirty-two tons burden, 
and worked by a low pressure engine. She was commissioned on 
Lake Erie, and arrived on her first trip to Detroit, August 22, 1818. 
In 1819 she made her first trip to Mackinac. She was lost in 
Buffalo bay, November 2, 182 1. This period culminated in the con- 
struction of magnificent floating palaces, which were usually crowded 
with emigrants, both native and foreign, bound for the far west. 

The side-wheel steamers, from their first introduction till the year 
i860, running from Buffalo, through Lakes Erie, Huron and Mich- 
igan to Chicago and Milwaukee, were many of them first class vessels, 
carrying great numbers of passengers and an immense amount of 
freight. The lake travel was in its glory, and the steamers running 
from Buffalo to Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, connecting with 
railroads, were truly magnificent. The popular commanders were 
then almost idolized and looked upon as fresh water admirals, while 
each one vied for the reputation of running the fastest steamer, which 
often resulted in disasters consigning many a passenger to a watery 
grave. 

Steam boat travel to Lake Superior is of comparatively recent 
date. In 1855 the St. Mary's ship canal was finished and immediately 
the travel assumed large proportions. Previous to this, however, several 
steamers had been carried over the portage at Sault Ste. Marie, and 
where running on the lake. Among these were the Julia Palmer and 
Sam Ward, and the Independence, Manhattan, Monticello and 
Peninsular. The four last named were at different times wrecked 
on Lake Superior. 

Communication between lakes Erie and Ontario was first opened 
up in 1 83 1 via Port Robinson and Chippewa, thence via Niagara 
river to Lake Erie. The first vessel to pass through, were the 
British schooner Annie and Jane, and the American schooner Erie 
and Ontario. Subsequently the outlet was extended to Port Colborn, 
and Port Maitland, on Lake Erie, the former twenty miles and the 
latter forty miles distant from Buffalo. The following is a carefully 
prepared list the of steamers lost since their introduction on the great 
lakes, in 1821. 



B IRDS-EYE VIEV^/ of the PENINSULA a nd Lake Erie ISLANDS. 



'- ' <■ S^'"^^ 


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- ■' T iihi^Av house" 



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• 
62 THE LAKE PORTS. 


LIST OF STEAMERS LOST ON THE LAKES. 


■ Walk-in the-Water, 342 tons, built 


1833, burned in 1835 at Buf- 


at Black Rock, 1818, wrecked 


falo ; rebuilt. 


at Buffalo, Nov. 1, 1821. 


Detroit 1st, 240, Toledo, 1833, 


Superior, 300, Buffalo, 1822, made 


wreck'd on LakeMichigan,i836. 


a ship and lost in 1843. 


Lady of the Lake, 60, Mt. Clemens, 


Chippewa, 100, Buffalo, 1824, bro- 


1833, broken up. 


ken up in 1825. ».• 


Gov. Marcy, 161, Black Rock, 


Niagara 1st, 180, Black Rock, 1825, 


1833, broken up. 


broken up. 


North America, 362, Conneaut, O., 


Henry Clay, 348, Black Rock, 1825, 


1 8 3 3, burned in Conneaut, 1 847. 


broken up. 


0. Newberry, 170, Palmer, Mich., 


Pioneer, 230, Black Rock, 1825, 


2833, broken up. 


wrecked on Lake Michigan, 


Delaware, 170, Huron, O., 1833, 


July, 1834. 


wrecked near Chicago, 1836. 


Wm.Penn,275, Erie, 18 26, wrecked. 


Victory, 77, Buffalo, 1834, broken 


Enterprise 1st, 250, Cleveland, 1826, 


up at Buffalo. 


wrecked. 


Gen. Porter, 342, Black Rock, 1834, 


William Peacock, 120, Barcelona, 


made a propeller. 


1829, exploded, killing 15 per- 


Thos. Jefferson, 428, Erie, Pa., 18 34, 


sons, on Lake Erie, 1830. 


converted into a floating eleva- 


Newburyport, 75, Erie, Pa., 1829, 


tor at Buffalo. 


broken up. 


Com. Perry, 352, Perrysburg, 1834, 


Sheldon Thompson, 242, Huron, 


exploded in 1835, killing 6. 


Ohio, 1830, broken up. 


Monroe, 341, Monroe, 1834, went 


Ohio 1st, 187, Sandusky, 1830, 


to pieces 


burned at Toledo in 1842. 


Mazeppa, 1830, Buffalo, 1834, made 


Adelaide (Champlain), 230, Chip- 


into a vessel. 


pewa, C.W., 1830, wrecked on 


Sandusky, 377, Sandusky, 1834, 


Lake Michigan, 1849. 


burned at Buffalo, made a bark, 


Gratiot, 63, Black River, O., 1831, 


lost in 1845. 


broken up. 


Minnissetunk, 250,Goderich, C.W., 


Pennsylvania, 395, Erie, Pa., 1832, 


1834, sunk near Maiden by 


broken up. 


steamboat Erie in 1839. 


Gen. Brady, 100, Detroit, 1832, 


Gen. Jackson, 50, Mt. Clemens, 


made into a vessel in 1844. 


1834, broken up. 


Uncle Sam, 280, Grosse Isle, Mich., 


Jack Downing, 80, Sandusky, 1834, 


1832, made into a vessel, 1844. 


made into a vessel. 


Perseverance, 50, Erie, Pa., 1832, 


Little Western, 60, Chatham, C.W., 


broken up. 


burned at Detroit in 1842. 


Washington 1st, 600, Huron, O., 


Caroline, 80, Charleston, S. C, 


1833, wrecked on Long Point, 


1834, burned and sent over 


first trip. 


Niagara Falls in 1837. 


New York, 325, Black Rock, 1833, 


Robert Fulton, 308, Cleveland, 1835, 


went to decay. 


wrecked at Sturgeon Point, L. 


Michigan 1st, 472, Detroit, 1833, 


E., in 1844. 


broken up. 


Columbus, 391, Huron, O., 1835, 


Daniel Webster, 358, Black Rock, 


wrecked on Dunkirk piers, 1848. 


1 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



63 



Chas. Townsend, 312, BufFalo,N.Y., 
1835, condemned in 1849. 

United States, 3'66, Huron, O., 
1835, broken up at Buffalo. 

Chicago, 166, St. Joseph, Mich., 
1835, wrecked in a gale in l 842. 

W. F. P. Taylor, 95, Silver Creek, 

1835, once burned, afterward 
wreck'd on Lake Michigan, 1842. 

Thames, 169, Chatham, 1833, burn- 
ed at Windsor in 1838 by rebels, 
and rebuilt. 

DeWitt Clinton, 493, Huron, O., 

1836, sunk at Dunkirk in 1851. 
Julia Palmer, 300, Buffalo, 1836, 

formerly a ship, lost on Lake 

Superior in 1847. 
Don Quixote, 80, Toledo, 1836, 

wrecked on Lake Huron, 1836. 
Little Erie, 149, Detroit, 1836, 

sunk in Lake St. Clair in 1843. 
Barcelona, 102, Dunnville, 1836, 

formerly PrincessVictoria, made 

into a vessel. 
United, 40, Detroit, 1836, made 

into a barge. 
St. Clair, 250, Sandusky, 1836, for- 
merly Rhode Island, went to 

decay. 
Cincinnati, li6, Sandusky, 1836, 

made a vessel, called the John 

F. Porter. 
Illinois 1st, 755, Detroit, 1837, 

made a propeller barge and 

lost on Lake Huron in 1868. 

Rochester, 472, near Fairport, 

1837, made a barge, wrecked 
at Erie, 1852, 7 lives lost. 

Madison, 630, Erie, Pa,, 1837, 

condemned in 1849. 
Cleveland 1st, 580, Huron, O., 1837, 

burned at Tonawanda in 1854. 
Wisconsin, 700, Conneaut, 1837, 

sunk in Lake Erie by collision. 
Erie, 497, Erie, Pa., 1837, burned 

off" Silver Creek in 1841, 250 

lives lost. 
Constellation, 483, Black River, O,, 

1837, broken up. 



Bunker Hill, 457, Black River, O., 
1837, burned at Tonawanda in 

Constitution, 443, Conneaut, O.. 
1837, broken up at Sandusky. 

New England,4i6,Black Rock, 1837, 
went to decay at Buffalo. 

Milwaukee, 400, Grand Island, 
1837, wrecked on Lake Michi- 
gan in 1842. 

Anthony Wayne, 390, Perrysburg, 

1837, exploded in 1850, broken 
up in 185 1. 

Macomb, 100, Mt. Clemens, 1837, 

condemned at Monroe. 
Rhode Island, 164, Sandusky, 1837, 

once called the St. Clair. 
Star, 128, Belvidere, Mich., 1837, 

burned at Buffalo in 1845. 
Commerce, 80, Sandusky, 1837, 

broken up. 
Mason, 33, Grand Rapids, 1837, 

condemned. 
Great Western, 780, Huron, O., 

1838, burned at Detroit in 
1 839, and rebuilt. 

Buffalo, 613, Buffalo, 1838, made a 

barque in 1848, and lost on 

Lake Michigan. 
Chesapeake, 412, Maumee, 1838, 

sunk in Lake Erie by collision 

with a vessel in 1846. 
Vermillion, 385, Vermillion, 1838, 

burned at Huron, O,, 5 lives 

lost. 
Lexington, 263, Black River, O., 

condemned. 
Fairport, 259, Fairport, 183S, 

burned at Algonac in J 844. 
Red Jacket, 148, Grand Island, 

1838, codemned at Detroit. 
Gen. Vance, 75, Perrysburg, 1838, 

exploded, 9 lives lost, near 

Windsor, 1844. 
James Allen, 258, Chicago, 1838, 

broken up. 
Washington 2d, 380, Ashtabula, 

1838, burned off' Silver Creek 

in 1838, 60 lives lost. 



64 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



G. W. Dole, 162, Chicago, 1838, 
sunk at Buffalo in 1856. 

C. C. Trowbridge, 52, Kalamazoo, 
1838, condemned at Milwau- 
kee. 

Marshall, 51, Perrysburg, 1838, 
broken up. 

Wabash, 34, Perrysburg, 1838, 
broken up. 

Owaskenonk, 45, Grand Haven, 

1838, broken up. 
Patronage, 56, St. Joseph, 1838, 

broken np. 

Gen. Scitt, 240, Huron, O., 1839, 
sunk in Lake St. Clair by col- 
lision in 1848. 

Chatauque, 200, Buffalo, 1839, sunk 
at Buffalo in 1848. 

Brothers, 350, Chatham, C. W., 

1839, sunk in Riv^er Thames, 
1846. 

Kent, 180, Chatham, C. W., 1839, 
sunk in Lake Erie by collision 
with steamboat London, 1845, 
7 lives lost. 

Huron, 140, Newport, 1839, dis- 
mantled in 1848. 

Gen. Harrison, 63, Maumee, 1839, 
wrecked near Chicago, 1854. 

Detroit 2d, 350, Newport, 1840, 
sunk in Saginaw Bay by col- 
lision with bark Nucleus, 1854. 

Missouri, 612, Erie, Pa., 1840, 
converted into a propeller barge 
in 1868. 

Waterloo, 100, Black Rock, 1S40, 
wrecked in Georgian Bay. 
1846. 

Indiana, 434, Toledo, 1841, burned 
at Conneaut in 1848. 

Ben Franklin, 231, Algonac, 1842, 
wrecked at Thunder Bay, 1850. 

John Owen, 230, Detroit, 1842, 
burned on River St. Clair, 
i860. 

Nile, 600, Detroit, 1843, wrecked 
at Milwaukee in 1840. 

Union, 64, Black Rock, 1843, 
broken up in 1850. 



Champion, 270, Newport, 1843, 

broken up. 
Emerald, 250, Chippewa, 1844, 

sunk in Bear Creek in 1858. 
Empire, 1,136, Cleveland, 1844, 

made a propeller barge, and 

lost in 1870 on Long Point. 
Tecumseh, 259, Algonac, 1844, 

wrecked in 1850, formerly of 

Fairport. 
J. Wolcott, 80, Maumee, burned 

1851. 
Indian Queen, 112, Buffalo, 1844 

wrecked at Dunkirk in 1846, 

20 lives lost. 
New Orleans, 610, Detroit, 1844, 

formerly Vermillion, lost at 

Thunder Bay in 1853. 
St. Louis, 618, Perrysburg, 1844 

wrecked on Lake Erie in 1852. 
U. S. steamer Michigan, 583, Erie, 

Pa., 1844, wrecked. 
U. S. steamer Alert, 133, Buffalo, 

1844, wrecked. 
Niagara 2d, 1084, Bufi^alo, 1845, 

burned on Lake Michigan in 

September, 1856, 60 lives lost. 
Boston, 775, Detroit, 1845, 

wrecked at Milwaukee, Novem- 
ber 24, 1846. 
Oregon, 781, Newport, 1845, 

burned at Chicago in 1849, 

while laid up. 
Troy, 547, Maumee, 1845, wrecked 

at Goderich in 1S60. 
G. P. Griffith, 587, Buffklo, I845, 

burned on Lake Erie in 1850, 

250 lives lost. 
Superior 2d, 507, Perrysburg, 1S45, 

wrecked on Lake Superior, 35 

lives lost, in 1856. 
Astor, 200, Green Bay, 1845, con- 
demned. 
London, 456, Chippewa, 1845, 

made a bark called Oliver Lee, 

wrecked in 1857. 
Helen Strong, 253, Monroe, 1S45, 

wrecked near Barcelona in 

1847, 2 lives lost. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



65 



Romeo. 180, Detroit, 1845, made a 
ferry boat in 1858 and taken to 
Toledo. 

Albany, 669, Detroit, 1 846. wrecked 
at Presque Isle, Lake Huron, in 

Hendrick Hudson, 759, Black River, 

O., 1846, burned at Cleveland 

in i860. 
Louisiana, 900, Buffalo, 1846, 

wrecked at Port Burwell in 

1857. 
Saratoga, 800, Cleveland, 1846, 

wrecked at Port Burwell in 

1854. 
Canada, 800, Chippewa, 1846, 

made a bark and lost on Lake 

Michigan in 1855. 
Islander, 73, Kelley's Island, 1846, 

sunk at St. Clair Flats by ice in 

1861. 
Baltic, 825, Buffalo, 1847, made a 

barge in 1863. 
Sultana, 800, Trenton, 1847, made 

a barge, and wrecked in 1858. 
A. D. Patchin, 870, Trenton, 1847, 

wrecked at Skillagalee in 1S50. 
Baltimore, 500, Monroe, 1847, 

wrecked at Sheboygan in 1855. 
Diamond, 336, Buffalo, 1847, broken 

up at Detroit in i860. 
Pacific, 500, Newport, 1847, made 

a barge, and lost on Lake 

Michigan in 1867. 
Ohio 2d, 600, Cleveland, 1847, 

dismantled at Erie in 1859. 
Sam Ward, Newport, 1847, made 

a barge, and running yet. 
Southerner, 500, Trenton, 1847, 

wrecked on Lake Erie in 1863. 
Arrow, 350, Trenton, 1848, con- 
demned in Green Bay in 1863. 
Alabama, 600, Detroit, 1848, sunk 

near Buffalo in 1854. 
Franklin Moore, 300, Newport, 

184S, broken up in 1862. 
J. D. Morton, 400, Toledo, 184S, 

burned on River St. Clair in 

1863. 

2 



Empire State, 1,700, St. Clair, 1848, 

made a dry dock at Buffalo in 

1858. 
Queen City, 1,000, Buffalo, 1848, 

made a barge, and lost on Lake 

Huron in 1866. 
Globe, 1,200, Detroit, 1848, con 

verted into a propeller. 
Columbia, 167, Fairport, 1848, 

wrecked on Lake Huron in 

1866. 
Charter, 350, Detroit, 1848, made 

a propeller, and lost in 1854 

on Lake Erie. 
Albion, 132, Maumee City, 1848, 

broken up in 1865. 
John Hollister, 300, Perrysburg, 

1S48, burned on Lake Erie, 

re-built, and lost on Lake 

Huron. 
Atlantic, 1,100, Newport, 1849, 

sunk at Long Point by col- 
lision, 150 lives lost. 
Mayflower, 1,300, Detroit, 1849, 

wrecked at Point au Pelee in 

1854. 
Keystone State, Bullalo, 1849, 

foundered on Saginaw Bay in 

186 1, ^;^ lives lost. 
Telegraph, loi, Truago, Mich., 

1849, sunk by collision with 

schooner Marquette, 1859, on 

Lake Erie. 
Dart, 297, Trenton, 1859, dis- 
mantled in 1866. 
Dover, 81, Port Dover, 1855, 

wrecked near Port Dover in 

1859. 
Ocean, 900, Newport, 1859, made 

into a barge in 1867. 
Fox, 162, Buffalo, 1859, burned at 

Newport, Mich., in 1863. 
Gore, T49, Lake Ontario, 1859, 

dismantled at Detroit. 
May Queen, 688, Trenton, 1859, 

burned at Milwaukee in 1866. 
Arctic, 857, Newport, 1851, 

stranded on Lake Superior in 

i860, at Huron Island. 




C'lilcaao lo Cluebef— View ol" Victoria Square, ITIontreal. 




t'lii«a:i<> to (Quebec Steamboat l^aiuiiiii^', Put-in Bay, 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



67 



Ruby, 251, Newport.. 185 1, broken 

up at Saginaw. 
Bay City, 479, Trenton, 1851, 

wrecked at the Clay Banks in 
1862. 
Buckeye State, 1,274. Cleveland, 

185 1, burned at Buffalo, dis- 
mantled in 1S57. 
Northerner, 5 14, Cleveland, 185 i, 

sunk in 1856 by collision with 

steamboat Forest City on Lake 

Huron. 
Swan, 1 66, Detroit, 1851. burned 

at Toledo in 1852, and at 

Algonac in 1854. 
Pearl, 251, Newport, 1851, broken 

up in 1869. 
Plough Boy, 450, Chatham, 185 1, 

re-named the T. F. Parks, 

burned in 1870 at Detroit. 
Mazeppa, 250, Lake Ontario, 185 i, 

wrecked on Lake Huron ini856. 
Minnesota, 749, Maumee, 185 1, 

wrecked at Summer's Island, 

Green Bay, iS6r. 
Caspian, 1,050, Newport, 185 1, 

wrecked at Cleveland pier in 

Lady Flgin, 1,037, Buffalo, 185 1, 

sunk by collision with schooner 

Augusta on Lake Michigan in 

i860, 400 lives lost. 
Iowa, 981, Buffalo, 1852, made a 

propeller, and finally a barge in 

1 868, lost in 1869. 
Cleveland 2d, 574, Newport, 1862, 

wrecked at Two Heart River, 

Lake Superior, in 1864. 
Golden Gate, 771, Buffalo, 1852, 

wrecked at Erie in 1856, i life 

lost. 
Huron 2d, 348, Newport, 1852, in 

commission. 
Traveller, 603, Newport, 1852, 

burned at Chicago in 1854, 

and at Eagle Harbor in 1865. 
Michigan 2d, 642, Detroit, 1847, 

made a barge, and lost on Lake 

Erie in 1869. 



Crescent City, 1,740, Buffalo, 1853, 

dismantled in 1859. 
Queen of the West, 1,851, Buffalo, 

1853, dismantled in 1859. 
Mississippi, 1,829, Buffalo, 1853, 

dismantled in 1862. 
St. Lawrence, 1,844, Buffalo, 1853, 

made a bark, and wrecked at 

Buffalo in 1863. 
E. K. Collins, 950, Newport, 1853, 

burned at mouth of Detroit 

River in 1854, 23 lives lost. 
Ariel, 165, Sandusky, 1853, burned 

opposite Belle Isle, Detroit 

River, in 1868. 
Garden City, 450. Buffalo, 1853, 

wrecked near Detour in 1854. 
Canadian, 389, Chatham, 1853, 

broken up in t868. 
Kaloolah, 450, Buffalo, 1853, 

wrecked at Saugeen in 1862. 
J. Whitney, 238, Saginaw, 1853, 

made a barge in 1867. 
Northern Indiana, 1,470, Buffalo, 

1853, burned on Lake Erie in 

1856, 56 lives lost. 
Southern Michigan, 1,470, Buffalo, 

1853, dismantled. 

Forester, 504, Newport, 1853, dis- 
mantled in 1865, made a barge. 
Plymouth Rock, 1,991, Buffalo, 

1854, dismantled in 1857. 
Western World, 1, 000, Buffalo, 1 85 4, 

dismantled in 1857. 
North Star, r,io6, Cleveland, 1854, 

burned in February, 1862, at 

Cleveland. 
Illinois 2d, 826, Detroit, 1854, 

made a barge in 1869, and lost 

same year on Lake Huron. 
R. R. Elliott, 321, Newport, 1854, 

dismantled in 1866 and made a 

barge. 
Clifton, 247, Chippewa, 1854, dis- 
mantle^ in 1S66 at Owen 

Sound. 
Forest Queen, 462, Newport, 1S55, 

dismantled in 1866 and made a 

barge. 



68 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Planet, 1,164, Newport, 1855, dis- 
mantled in 1866 at Manitowoc, 
and made a barge 

Island Queen, 173, Kelley's Island, 

1855, in commission. 

Amity, 2 17, Chatham, 1856, wreck- 
ed on Long Point in 1867. 

Magnet, 256, Saginaw, 1856, in 
commission. 

Western Metropolis, 1,860, Buffalo, 

1856, made a bark, and wreck- 
ed on Lake Michigan in 1864. 

City of Buffalo, 2,000, Buffalo, 

1857, made a propeller, and 
burned at Buffalo. 

City of Cleveland, 788, Buffalo, 

1857, made a barge, and lost on 

Lake Erie in 1S68. 
Princess,io9, Algonac,i85S, broken 

up in 1869. 
Olive Branch, 89, Detroit, 1858, 

broken up. 
Gazelle, 422, Newport, 1858, 

wrecked at Eagle Harbor, 1870. 
Sea Bird, 638, Newporf, 1S59, 

burned on Lake Michigan in 

1868, 72 lives lost. 
Detroit (steamship), 1,113, Buffalo, 

1839, made a propeller in 1871. 
Milwaukee, 1,113, (steamship), Buf- 
falo, 1859, wrecked at Grand 

Haven in 1868. 
Bonnie Boat, 125, Huron, O., 1859, 

wrecked at Kincardine in 1869. 
Comet, 385, Newport, i860, in 

commission. 
Philo Parsons, 221, Algonac, 1861, 

at Chicago. 
Sunbeam, 398, Manitowoc, 1861. 

foundered on Lake Superior in 

1863, 21 lives lost. 
Bruce, roo, Goderich, 1862, broken 

up. 
Emerald 2d, 249, Algonac, 1862, 

in commission at Saginaw. 
Morning Star, 1,141, Trenton, 1862, 

sunk in Lake Erie in July, 1862, 

by collision with bark Cortland, 

32 lives lost. 



Sarah Van Epps, 179, Fort How- 
ard, 1862, in commission. 
Susan Ward, 359, Detroit, 1862, 

made a barge in 1870. 
Young America, 89, Algonac, 1862, 

in commission. 
Stephen Clement, 602, Newport, 

1S63, made a barge in 1869. 
Heather Bell, 149, Detroit, 1863, 

in commission. 
Reindeer, 320, Saginaw, 1863, in 

commission. 
Silver Spray, 269, Port Dalhouse, 

1864, in commission. 
W. J. Spicer, 446, Port Sarnia,i864, 

Grand Trunk Ferry. 
L. G. Mason, 139, Grand Rapids, 

1864, at Saginaw. 
George Dunlap, 358, Green Bay, 

1864, plying on Green Bay. 
C. W. Reynolds, 171, Toledo, 

1864, plying at Saginaw. 
J. B. Smith, 141, Algonac, 1864, 

plying at Detroit. 
Wave 2d, 159, Algonac, 1864, ply- 
ing at Saginaw. 
Keweenaw, 635, Marine City,i865, 

plying to Lake Superior. 
City of Toledo, 362, Toledo, 1865, 

plying on Lake Michigan. 
Waubuno, i8o,Port Robinson, 1S65, 

plying on Georgian Bay. 
Minnie (flat), 242, Saginaw, 1865. 
Gen. Sheridan, 100, Cleveland, 1865. 
W. R. Clinton, 395, Marine City, 

1866, plying to Saginaw, Capt. 

P. Kenyon. 
City of Sandusky, 432, Sandusky, 

i866, plying on Saginaw Bay. 
Orion, 636, Manitowoc, 1866, ply- 
ing on Lake Michigan. 
Saginaw, 563, Marine City, 1866, 

plying on Green Bay. 
Evening Star, 342, Saginaw, 1866, 

plying at Sandusky. 
Mackinaw (flat), 191, Detroit,i866, 

plying on the river. 
Alpena, 617, Marine City, 1866, 

plying on Lake Michigan. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



69 



Marine City, 573, Marine City, 

1866, plying to Mackinaw. 

R. N. Rice, 1,030, Detroit, 1866, 
partially destroyed by fire while 
lying at her dock, Detroit, 1877. 
Cleveland, Capt. McKay. 

Great Western, 1,2 00, Windsor, 1866 
iron ferry steamer at Detroit. 

Union, 1,000, Windsor, 1866, ferry 
for railroads at Detroit. 

Frances Smith, 625, Owen Sound, 

1867, P''^^ ^° ^""^ ^''""^ Owen 
Sound. . 

Manitowoc. 773, Manitowoc, 1867, 
plies on Lake Michigan. 

Northwest 1,100, Manitowoc,i867, 
plies to Cleveland, Capt. Viger. 

Dominion, 221, Wallaceburg, 1868, 



plies to Chatham, Capt. Stein- 

hofF. 
Jay Cooke, 450, Detroit, 1868, plies 

to Sandusky, Capt. Goldsmith. 
Dove, 427, Trenton, 1868, plies to 

Maiden, Capt. Sloan. 
J. K. White, 80, Cleveland, 1868, 

plies to Toledo. • 

Ivanhoe, 223, Buffalo, 1869, plies 

Niagara River. 
Manitoba, 800, Port Robinson, 

1871, plies to Collingwood and 

Lake Superior. 
Cumberland, 750, Port Robinson, 

1871, plies to Collingwood and 

Lake Superior. 
North Star, 300, Green Bay, 1871, 

plies on Green Bay route. 



There were several others which plied to and from Detroit, ot the 
smaller class, not noted in the above. The following brief mention 
of steamers was omitted in the foregoing : The Cynthia, a small 
steamer plying between Chatham and Maiden, was burned near the 
latter port in 1838. The O. H. Perry (small), burned at Sandusky 
in 1869. The J. P. Ward, one hundred and sixty-seven tons, built at 
Detroit in 1857, burned at Bay City in 1865, and her bottom built into 
a vessel. The steamers Reindeer and Freetrader (both pollywogs), 
Canadian boats, were lost in 1857. The former was wrecked at Big 
Point Au Sable, Lake Michigan, and twenty-three lives lost; the lat- 
ter was burned at Port Stanley, C. W. The Fremont was burned at 
Sandusky in 1858. The Sebastopol, built at Cleveland in 1854 or '55, 
was wrecked at Milwaukee in 1855 ; and the Canada 2d wrecked at Bar 
Point, Lake Erie, and was burned previously on River St. Clair, in 1855. 
The steamer America, built at Port Huron, and about six hundred tons, 
was wrecked on the rocks at Dunkirk, in 1854. The steamer Bruce 
Mines foundered on Lake Huron, and one life was lost. The Belle, 
a small boat built at Buffalo, and first commanded by Captain Yrank 
Perew, was wrecked on Georgian Bay, in 1852. The Telegraph No. 
2, formerly a lower lake boat, was burned at the head of Lake Erie, 
in 1852; and a Canadian steamer, the Queen Victoria, wrecked at 
the head of Niagara river, in 185 1. A steamer called the Atlas was 
wrecked near Grand River, C. W., in 185 1, and the Wave ist, built 
at Detroit, wrecked near the same place, same year. The Colonel 
Crockett was lost near St. Joseph, in 1834. Of her career we know 
nothing ; she was of the smaller class. The Mazeppa 2d was brought 
from Lake Ontario in 1S56, and was shortly after wrecked on Lake 
Huron. In 1847, a steamer called the Experiment, brought from 
Lake Ontario, navigated Lake Erie, and was broken up on the 
Detroit river a few years since. In 1848, the Dispatch came from 



yo THE LAKE PORTS. 



the lower lake, and plied on Lake Erie, and eventually became a tug 
on the rivers. She was broken up at Chatham, in i860. 

The introduction of propellers on the northern lakes was first inau- 
gurated by the arrival on Lake Erie, early in 1842, of the Vandalia, a 
sloop-rigged craft, built at Oswego, and one hundred and fifty tons bur- 
den. Since that date upward of seven hundred have been set afloat on 
the upper and lower lakes. In 1842, the Chicago and Oswego, each 
one hundred and fifty tons burden, were built at Oswego. The 
first built upon the upper lakes were the Hercules and Sampson, 
the former at Buffalo and the latter at Perrysburg; the Hercules 
was two hundred and seventy-five tons, the Sampson two hundred 
and fifty tons burden. The Emigrant came out same year at Cleve- 
land, two hundred and seventy-five tons, and the Independence at 
Chicago, two hundred and sixty-two tons. The Racine and New 
York also came out that year at Oswego. In 1844, the Porter, three 
hundred and ten tons, at Buffalo. In 1845 were the following; The 
Syracuse, of Oswego ; Henry Clay, of Dexter ; Ireland, of Kingston ; 
Oregon, of Cleveland ; Princeton, of Perrysburg ; Phoenix, of Cleve- 
land ; and Detroit, of Detroit. The tonnage of these last named 
was from three hundred to four hundred tons. In 1846 the follow- 
ing were commissioned : The James Wood, of Dexter ; Genessee 
Chief, of Rochester; Milwaukee, formerly Vandalia, of Oswego; 
Ontario, of Rochester; Pocahontas, of Buffalo ; California, of Buffalo ; 
St. Joseph, of Buffalo ; Earl Cathcart, of Maiden ; Queen of the 
West, of Maiden ; Lady of the Lake, of Cleveland ; Oneida, of 
Cleveland; Goliah, of Palmer, Mich.; Delaware of Black River, O.; 
Globe, of Maumee City; Odd Fellow, of Grand River, Mich.; and 
Cleveland, of Cleveland. The tonnage of these boats ranged 
about the same as the last named. In 1847, the Paugasset, Man- 
hattan and Boston were all commissioned at Cleveland; tonnage, 
respectively three hundred and twenty, three hundred and thirty 
and three hundred and fifty. In 1848 the Gen. Taylor, Sandusky, 
Montezuma and Charter Oak came out at Buffalo (the latter pre- 
viously a vessel) ; the Republic, Monticello and Ohio, at Cleveland. 
The following propellers have passed out of existence. There being 
several years during which no lake records were published, we make 
no attempt to furnish complete details : 



Goliah, burned on Lake Huron in 
1848, and 18 lives lost. 

Monticello, wrecked on Lake Supe- 
rior in 185 1. 

Henry Clay, cargo of flour, rolled 
over in Lake Erie in 1851. 

Vandalia (Canadian), sunk by col- 
lision with schooner Fashion in 
Lake Erie in 185 1. 

Ireland, burned on the St. Lawrence 



River in 1852. ' C, in 1852 



City of Oswego, sunk by collision 

with steamboat America on Lake 

Erie in 1852. 
Sampson, cargo oi' flour, wrecked 

near Buffalo in 1852. 
Oneida,cargool'flour,capsized offErie 

inSeptember,i852,a]llost,ic)lives. 
James Wood, cargo of flour, wrecked 

at Ashtabula in 1852. 
Genessee, burned at Rochester, L. 




< lii(ai:<> to <Juol>o«- liiiviil Hiilvorsitj and Grand Oattery, Qiu-l»of. 




('Iiicaj;>u to Quebec— Wolle's Monument, near Quebee, 



7- 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Princeton, cargo of merchandise, 
sunk off Barcelona in 1854. 

H. A. Kent, burned off Gravelly 
Bay, Lake Erie, in 1854. 

Bucephalus, foundered on Saginaw 
Bay in 1854, lo lives lost. 

Boston, sunk by collision with a ves- 
sel on Lake Ontario in 1854. 

International, burned at Black Rock, 
N. Y., in 1854. 

Cincinnati, went ashore in a gale at 
Point au Barque in 1854. 

Westmoreland, foundered near the 
Manitous, Lake Michigan, in 
1854, 17 lives lost. 

Rossiter, lost in a gale at head of 
Lake Michigan in 1855. 

Charter Oak, foundered in Lake 
Erie in 1855, II lives lost, 

Delaware, wrecked in a gale at She- 
boygan in 1855, 10 lives lost. 

Fintry, exploded off Port Stanley in 
1856, 10 lives lost. 

Forest City, sunk in Lake Michigan 
by collision with schooner Asia 
in 1855. 

Oregon, exploded head of Detroit 
River in 1855, 17 lives lost. 

Independence, wrecked at the Sault 
in 1853. 

Lord Elgin, wrecked on Lake On- 
tario in 1856, 

St. Joseph, ashore and total loss at 
Fairport in 1856. 

Sandusky, ashore at Conneaut in 
1856. 

J. W. Brooks, foundered on Lake 
Ontario in 1856, all lost — 22 
lives. 

Phoenix, burned on Lake Michigan 
November, 1856, 190 lives lost. 

B. L, Webb, burned on Lake Supe- 
rior in 1856, I life lost. 

Brunswick,foundered on Lake Mich- 
igan in 1856, I life lost. 

Pinto, burned at Kingston, Lake 
Ontario, in 1856. 

Charter, wrecked in a g-ile at Fair- 
port in 1856. 



Paugassett, burned at Dunkirk in 

1856. 
Protection, sunk by steamer Boston, 

on River St. Lawrence, 1856. 
Toledo ist, foundered at her anch- 
ors ofF Port Washington, 1856, 

42 lives lost. 
Falcon, burned at Chicago in 1856. 
Louisville, burned off Chicago in 

1857, I life lost. 
Republic, burned at Sandusky, 1S57. 
Oliver Cromwell, sunk in the Straits 

by collision with the schooner 

Jessie in 1857. 
City of Superior, wrecked at Eagle 

Harbor, 1857. 
Napoleon, wrecked at Saugeen, 

Lake Huron, in 1857. 
St. Nicholas, wrecked at Sleeping 

Bear in 1857. 
Forest Citv, burned at Port Stanley, 

C. W.', in 1858. 
Indiana, sunk in Lake Superior in 

,858. 
North America, burned at St. Clair 

Flats in 1858. 
Ontario, went to California in 1850. 
Manhattan, wrecked at Grand 

Marias River, Lake Superior, 

in 1859, 
Oriental, cargo ot provisions, lost 

on Skillagalee, with 2 wrecking 

pumps, in 1859. 
Troy, foundered with cargo of 

wheat on Lake Huron in 18^9, 

23 lives lost. 
Ohio, exploded and sunk off Erie 

in 1859, 2 lives lost. 
Milwaukee, sunk by collision with 

schooner J. H. Tiffany in 1859, 

near Skillagalee. 
Lady of the Lakes, exploded and 

sunk in Lake Erie in 1859, 2 

lives lost. 
Peninsula, wrecked on Lake Huron 

in 1853. 
M. B. Spiulding, burned at Forester, 

L. H., in i860, bottom made 

into a vessel. 





THE I.AKE PORTS. 73 


Mount Vernon, exploded on Lake 


with all hands, in 1S63, 20 lives 


Krie in i860, 2 lives lost. 


lost. 


Globe (formerly side wheel), ex- 


Nile, exploded at Detroit dock in 


ploded at Chicago in 1S60, 16 


1864, 6 lives lost. 


lives lost. 


Racine, burned oft" Rond Eau, 1864, 


Wabash Valley, stranded at Mus- 


bottom made a bark, 9 lives 


kegon in i860. 


lost. 


Decotah, wrecked at Sturgeon 


Sciota, sunk in Lake Erie by col- 


Point, L. E., in i860, and all 


lision with propeller Arctic, in 


lost, 35 lives. 


1864, 9 lives lost. 


Jersey City, lost by same storm. 


Ogdensburg, sunk in Lake Erie by 


with 19 lives. 


collision with schooner Snow- 


Ogontz, converted into a vessel in 


bird in 1864. 


i860. 


Kenosha, burned near Sarnia in 


Cataract, burned off Erie, Pa., in 


1864. 


1861, 4 lives lost. 


Pewabic, sunk in Lake Huron by 


L. L. Britton, stranded off Calumet, 


collision with propeller Meteor 


Lake Michigan, in 1861. 


in 1864, 100 lives lost. 


Banshee, sprung a leak and sunk oft 


Illinois, sunk at Point au Pelee by 


South Bay, Lake Ontario, in 


collision with propeller Dean 


1861, I life lost. 


Richmond in 1865. 


Oshawa, went ashore at South Bay, 


Stockman, barned at Bear Creek in 


Lake Ontario, in 1861. 


1865. 


Gen. Taylor, wrecked at Sleeping 


Brockville, wrecked at Big Point au 


Bear, Lake Michigan, in 1862. 


Sable, Lake Michigan, in 1865, 


Bay State, sunk in Lake Ontario in 


3 lives lost. 


1862, all hands lost, 22 lives. 


City of Bufi^alo, burned at Buffalo 


Pocahontas, wrecked at Long Point, 


in 1866. 


Lake Erie, in 1862. 


Mary Stewart, wrecked at Grand 


Euphrates, wrecked on Sandusky 


Haven, 1866. 


Bar in 1862. 


Whitby, lost on Lake St. Francis, 


C. Mears, sunk by collision with 


1866. 


propeller Prairie State in Lake 


F.W,Backus,burned at Racine,i866. 


Michigan in 1862. 


Wisconsin, burned on Lake Ontario, 


B. F. Bruce, burned near Port Stan- 


1867, 50 lives lost. 


ley, Lake Erie, in 1862. 


Acme, wrecked in gale off" Dunkirk, 


California, wrecked on Gull Island 


1867. 


Reef, Lake Erie, in 1862. 


North, burned on River St. Clair, 


Jefferson, dismantled at Cleveland 


1867. 


in 1863. 


Antelope, burned at Bufi^alo, 1867, 


Detroit 1st, dismantled and made a 


made a steam barge. 


barge in 1863. 


Portsmouth, wrecked on Middle 


Globe 1st, burned and sunk in 


Island, Lake Huron, 1867. 


Saginaw Bay in 1863, resur- 


Owego, wrecked off" Barcelona, 


rected and made a barge. 


1867, 5 lives lost. 


Vermont, sunk in Lake Erie by 


Sunnyside, wrecked at Pine River, 


collision with propeller Mar- 


Mich., 1867. 


quette in 1863. 


Genesee Chief, burned at Detroit, 


Water Witch, lost in Lake Huron, 


1868, made a barge. 





74 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Gov. Cushman, exploded at Buffalo, 

1868, 12 lives lost. 

River Queen, burned at Marine 
City, 1868, made a tug. 

Hippocampus, burned on Lake 
Michigan, 1868, 26 lives lost. 

Perseverance, burned on Lake On- 
tario, 1868, 14 lives lost. 

Congress (formerly Detroit 2d), 
wrecked at Thunder Bay, 1868. 

Queen of the Lakes, burned at 
Marquette, 1869. 

Boscobel, burned on River St. Clair, 

1869, 3 lives lost, built up from 
bottom into schooner, owned by 
Com. E. Allen, Algonac. 

Forest Queen, sunk bv ice off Clay 

Banks, 1869. 
Omar Pasha, burned at Muskegon, 

1869. 
Avon, wrecked at Presque Isle, Lake 

Huron, 1869. 
Hunter, sunk by collision with pro- 



peller Comet in Detroit River, 
1869. 

Belle, burned off Port Washington, 
1869, 2 lives lost. 

Colonise, sunk in Lake Huron, with 
valuable cargo, 1S69. 

Equator, wrecked at North Mani- 
tou, Lake Michigan, 1869. 

Free State, wrecked on Graham 
Shoals, 1871, valuable cargo. 

Anna Horton, wrecked at Kincar- 
dine, 1871. 

R. G. Coburn, foundered on Sagi- 
naw Bay, 1871, valuable cargo, 
42 lives lost. 

Navarino (new), burned at Chicago, 
1871. 

Evergreen City, wrecked at Long 
Point, 1871. 

Alex. Watson, burned on River St. 
Clair, 1871. 

J. Barber, burned on Lake Michi- 
gan, 1871, 2 lives lost. 



From the foregoing, which, as previotisly stated, mentions those 
only which have become extinct, and by no means includes all, owing 
to absent records, including 1870, of which no report was given. In 
the foregoing we omitted to give the Independence, wrecked on Lake 
Superior in 1853. From the above exhibit, it appears there were 
forty-five propellers burned, ten lost with all hands, seven exploded, 
and one hundred and twenty total losses, besides five hundred and 
forty-four lives lost. 




THE LAKE PORTS. 75 



EARLY LAKE NAVIGATORS 



|!l|UR brief narrative of marine events would by no means be com- 
1| plete without at least a passing notice of the lake navigators of 
-iP- earlier times, many if not nearly all now gone to their final rest. 
We much regret our inability to present this portion of the work in 
complete detail, but owing to the incompleteness of the records of lake 
events in the past, we must content ourselves by giving an abstract. 

The steamboat men of the earlier times are at present limited to a 
comparative few, many having died within the past few years. Below we 
give a list of the names of some who were most prominent as navigat- 
ors and shipping men generally ; many of them are still with us, but 
the names of some long since departed will be recognized by the 
readers of these pages. The command of the first steamer, the Walk- 
in-the-Water, devolved on Capt. Job Fish, an imported man from 
the East, whose knowledge of lake navigation did not extend very 
far, and who resigned his post on encountering the first gale, which 
occurred on his third or fourth trip, and delivered over the safe 
management of the vessel to John Davis, his mate, before reaching 
port. Jedediah Rogers subsequently commanded her to the close 
of her career. The Superior, being the second steamer on the lakes, 
was placed in command of Capt. Roger Sherman, who, although im- 
ported, as was the case of Fish, proved himself equal to the position, 
and continued as master of the ^me boat two or more seasons, when 
he returned from whence he came. Capt. W. T. Pease, who comes 
next on the list, commanded respectively the Niagara ist, Pioneer, 
Superior, Niagara 2d, and others at a latter period, including the 
Boston. He was also at one time master of the schooner Michigan, 
which subsequently was sent over Niagara Falls. He is yet living 
and a resident of Buffalo. Capt. L. H. Cotton commanded the first 
steamer that ever towed a vessel up the Fort Erie Rapids, the steam- 
er being the Monroe, and the vessel the ship Milwaukee. Capt. C. 
also, during a very lengthy and popular career, was master of the 
steamers Ohio ist, Pennsylvania, D. Webster, Oregon, Baltic, An- 
thony Wayne, and latterly the mammoth steamer Western World. 
At an early period of his life, in 1835 if we mistake not, he fitted out 
the brig Queen Charlotte, which, during the war of 181 2, was cap- 
tured from the British, and for many years lay sunk at Erie, Pa. 
Capt. David Wilkeson, commenced (as did those previously named, 
except Slierman and Fish) his career in command of sail vessels. We 
learn of his commanding the schooners Eagle and Gurriere, his first 
steamer being the Commodore Perry, of which he remained master 
until the close of her career, when himself and others caused to be 



76 THE LAKE PORTS. 



built the Superior 2d, which he commanded for several years. Capt. 
C. L. Gager, is also among our early lake men, and was with Cajjt. 
Levi Allen, James Harrington, Loring Pierce, and John Kimberly on 
the Walk-in-the-VVater as seamen comprising her crew. He was ab- 
sent from the lakes for several years, and on his return bought the 
steamer Red Jacket and sailed her, then the Gen. Porter, which he 
converted into a propeller, and afterwards the Albany. Capt. Wal- 
ter Norton, many years deceased at Buffalo, was among the early 
pioneers, and first commanded sail vessels, among which was the 
schooner Michigan already alluded to. He sailed the steamers Hen- 
ry Clay, Gen. Porter and Michigan. Capt. Geo. Miles commanded 
vessels for several years, among others the Erie, which during a 
fearful gale got dismasted on Lake Erie and came near being lost 
with all hands. He afterward sailed the steamboat Enterprise 
somewhere in the years 1834-5, and died, we believe, several years 
since at Erie. Capt. John F. Wight commanded the Wm. Penn, and 
subsequently the Chicago. He died some years since at Erie. Capt. 
Harry Whittaker was not only prominent as a steamboat navigator, 
but also a builder of steamboats, and through the intrigues of others 
has had his fortune wrecked on more than one occasion. At an early 
day he sailed the schooner Marie Antoinette, then the steamers North 
America, Monroe, United States and A. D. Patchin. What was 
never previously nor since achieved, he navigated with the steamer 
United States throughout the winter of 1845, between Buffalo and 
Detroit. Capt. Morris Tyler was also a vessel man at the first, and 
in 1 83 1 -2 sailed the schooner Cincinnati, and others previous to that 
time. He also commanded the steamers Ohio ist, Dan. Webster and 
James Allen. He last sailed the brig Columbia, which he built and 
owned. He died at his residence in Lower Sandusky somewhere about 
the year 1845. Capt. John Fleeha»ty commanded vessels at first, 
then steamers Wm. Peacock and Pennsylvania, and on his retirement 
went into the forwarding business at Huron, Ohio, and subsecjuently 
at Buffalo, where he died a few years since. Capt. Chesley Blake 
died at Milwaukee, with cholera, in 1849. He commanded the 
schooners Hannah, Napoleon and others; also, steamers Niagara, 
Michigan and Illinois. Capt. Augustus Walker was probably one of 
the most prominent navigators in aiding and furthering steamboat 
interests that ever sailed the lakes. He built the steamers Sheldon 
Thompson, Washington ist, Columbus and Great Western, and first 
commanded the steamer United States, and subsecjuently the others 
herein named. The Western was the first steamer on the lakes" pro- 
vided with upper cabins. Capt. W. died at Buffalo, in 1865, aged 65. 
Capt. Levi Allen, one of the mt)st popular lake men throughout his 
sailing career, commanded respectively the steamers United States, 
Superior, Pennsylvania, Buffalo and Niagara 2d. He still resides at 
Buffalo, N. Y. Captain Archibald Allen died several years since, at 
Black Rock, N. Y. Among other craft he commanded during his 
time were the steamers Michigan and Nile. Capt. Simeon Fox will 
be remembered by many acquainted with early lake events He 



THE T.AKE PORTS. 7 7 



served on board sail craft the greater part of his time, and at one 
period sailed the schooner Amaranth. He also commanded the 
steamboats Charles Townsend and Chautauqiie,the latter when plying 
between Buffalo and Barcelona. He died at Buffalo, N. Y., many 
years since. Cai)t. Peter Shainholdts served as first officer on the 
steamboat Superior, along with Pease, and in the same capacity for 
several years on different boats. He commanded the steamer Cin- 
cinnati, between Buffalo and Chippewa, for a time, and the Charles 
Townsend, between Buffalo and Detroit. He died at Buffalo, some- 
where in 1847 o'' '4^- Capt. Thomas VVilkins was a man unsurpassed 
in poiMilarity by any who ever came before or after him. In con- 
nection with his duties, he always maintained the strictest sobriety in 
the performance of the same. He was the popular commander of 
the steamers Wm. Peacock. Thos. Jefferson, and Missouri, and after 
retiring from the lakes served faithfully for several years, and up to 
the time of his decease, as Collector of Customs at Erie, Pa. He died 
in 1870. Capt. Sam. Chase, long since dead, commanded in his day 
the steamer Ohio ist, also the Gov. Marcy and the Monroe. Capt. 
Charles Burnett (familiarly known as Buck Burnett) commanded the 
steamers Ohio ist and the New England. He also in earlier times 
commanded vessels. After his retirement from the lakes he was 
a])pointed Harbor Master at Buffalo, and proved an excellent officer. 
Pie died, like most all sailors, very poor. Capt. James Lundy com- 
menced his career on board sail vessels, and, among others, we 
remember his connection with the schooners Detroit, Maria and 
others; also, steamers Pennsylvania, Cleveland ist. Uncle Sam, Con- 
stellation, Rochester, Baltic, City of Cleveland, and others we do not 
call to mind. He was a man of strict habits and always popular. 
Bob Wagstaff, as he was familiarly called, will not soon be forgotten 
by many. He commanded the first and finest ship ever on the lakes, 
the Julia Palmer, in 1836. He was also a steamboat man tor many 
years of his life, and not long since died in New York. Capt. 
Charles C. Stannard commanded the brig Ramsay Crooks, on Lake 
Superior, also the steamboats Niagara, Bunker Hill and Saratoga, 
and died at "the bells," on board the Western World, on leaving the 
dock at Detroit, in 1856. Capt. A. E. Hart commanded steamers 
United States, Cleveland ist, propellers Oregon and Edith. Previous 
to steamboating he sailed the schooner Buffalo and others. His 
brother, Capt. Robert Hart, deceased at Buffalo, sailed at an early 
day the sloop Wm. Tell and other vessels, also steamer Robert Ful- 
ton and propeller Paugassett. 

The steamer Chippewa, built at Buffalo, without frames, with the 
shape or model of a muskmelon,was sailed by Captain Benjamin 
Armstrong, who also commanded the schooners Sterling and Britan- 
nia, besides other craft. Capt. G. Appleby sailed the schooner New 
Connecticut, which capsized in Lake Erie, and three days afterward 
a woman was rescued from the cabin alive, which was conceded 
one of the most remarkable events of the times. He also com- 
manded the steamers North America, Constitution, Ben. Franklin and 



78 THE LAKE PORTS. 



Sultana. He died at Buffalo, in 1867. Capt. Thomas J- Titus com- 
menced his career on sail vessels, commanding the schooners Aurora, 
United States and others. He also sailed the steamers Ohio ist, 
Sandusky, Erie, Buffalo, Queen City and Julia Palmer. His last 
command was that of the propeller Monticello, and while on Lake 
Michigan was drowned from the small boat while attempting to 
land. Capt. H. Van Allen was deservedly one of the most 
popular men navigating the lakes, in whom the qualities of the sailor 
and gentleman were combined. His sailing career began on the 
Canada side, and we remember him on board the steamers Thames, 
Kent, Emerald, London, Canada and Clifton ; also, on the American 
side, on board the Mayflower and Empire State, two of the finest 
steamers that ever floated. The steamer Thames was also at one 
time commanded by Capt. G. R. Williams, plying between Buffalo 
and Port Stanley, C. W. Capt. S. F. Atwood ranks also among the 
first navigators on the lakes widely and favorably known. Besides 
sail vessels, he commanded at different periods the steamers Macomb, 
Monroe, Gen. Harrison, Troy, Arrow, T. Whitney, Parsons and 
others we do not at present call to mind. He is yet in excellent 
health, enjoying life at his island home on Lake Erie, at North Bass, 
where he is extensively engaged in the culture of grapes. If we have 
omitted already, we did not intend to, the name of Capt. J. L. 
Edmonds, who commanded for several years vessels and steamers. 
Of the latter we mention the North America, Chicago and Southerner. 
While in command of the latter, and after leaving Buffalo on her 
second trip of the season, in March, 1850, he was taken suddenly 
ill, causing the immediate return of the steamer to port, where he 
died on entering the harbor. Capt. Aaron Root sailed the schooner 
Amaranth, steamer Constellation in 1836, Bunker Hill in 1837, and 
subsequently the propeller Henry Clay. He died at Black River, 
O. Capt. Joel H. McQueen commanded the steamer Constellation 
in 1837 — afterward the Sam. Ward and other boats we do not now 
remember. He also at one time commanded the schooner White 
Pigeon. Capt. John Shook sailed the schooner Cincinnati, besides 
other vessels, at an early period, also steamers United States and 
Columbus. He died at Huron, O., some years since. His brother, 
Capt. Jim Shook, sailed the fine clipper brig Illinois, in 1835, of the 
Eagle Line, when it was fashionable to have the pea jacket orna- 
mented with the spread eagle. He also at one time commanded the 
propeller Sciota, besides several sail craft. He died at Huron, O., a 
few years since. Capt. Cliff Belden died at Cleveland in August, 
1858. He commenced early on the lakes, on board of sail vessels, 
and one time commanded the steamboat Star. Capt. A. H. Squier 
sailed vessels for several years, among others the schooner Laguire, 
steamers DeWitt Clinton, Garden City and others. Capt. Amos 
Pratt, long a prominent lake navigator, will be recollected as master 
of the steamer Anthony Wayne, or Mad Anthony, as she was at first 
called. He also commanded one of the first propellers on the lakes, 
the Samson, in 1843, afterward the Princeton and Globe. He was a 



THE LAKE PORTS. 79 



popular seaman and gentleman. His death occurred a few years 
since. Capt. Wm. Dickson died at Buffalo, in 1865, aged sixty-five. 
He was reared an the waters, and commenced life as a ferryman 
between Black Rock and Fort Erie. After several years' experience 
on the lakes, he commanded the schooners Sterling, Merchant, 
Michigan 2d, ship Milwaukee, brig Robert Hunter, propellers Hunter 
and Illinois. Capt. T. J. Fheatt died at Toledo, in 1859. He came 
from the lower lake,- and our first recollection of him is when in 
command of the schooner Grant. While on the upper lakes he 
commanded the steamer Gen. Harrison, in 1840 (log cabin times), 
the steamer Indiana, in 1842, the Northern Indiana and Western 
Metropolis. At the time of his decease he was managing a ferry at 
Toledo. Capt. John Stewart sailed, for the late Oliver Newberry, 
several vessels, commencing at an early period — the schooners 
Marengo, La Salle, brig Manhattan and others. Previous to his 
decease, which took place on the River St. Clair, he commanded the 
steamers Michigan and Northerner. He was universally liked. We 
also pay a passing tribute to the memory of other lake pioneers, 
among whom were Capt. Sam. Vary, who died at Sheboygan a few 
years since ; " Ould Ned Burke," as he was widely known ; Jerry 
Oliver, who commanded the steamer New England, besides sail 
vessels at other periods; Capts. Paine Mann, Joe Sherwood, John 
Kline, also Capts. John W. Webster and James Hackett. Capt. W. 
P. Stone, once of the steamer Keystone State, and favorably known, 
died a few years since at an hotel in New York City. Capt. Thomas 
Richards died while in command of the steamer Niagara, at Mil- 
waukee, in 1849. Capt. G. W. Floyd came from the seaboard, and 
sailed the brig Indiana in 1837, in 1839 the steamer Sandusky, and 
in 1843 the propeller Hercules, after which he returned to salt water. 
He died in California. Capt. George E. Willoughby died at Quebec a 
few years since. He commanded respectively the Emerald, London, 
Canada, Ocean, Mayflower and Plymouth Rock, and was a popular 
seaman. 

Capt. C. H. Ludlow sailed vessels, and in 1849 commanded the 
steamboat Baltic. He also sailed the propeller Globe, subsequently 
the propeller New York. He died several years ago. Capt. Jacob 
Imson, commanded the Hendrick Hudson, Diamond, Buckeye State 
and propeller St. Joseph. Capt. S. Clement in 1839 sailed the 
schooner Philadelphia, and at other periods different vessels, besides 
the Atlantic and others of Ward's steamers. Capt. E. B. Ward was 
also at an early date a vessel man, sailing, among others, the schooner 
Gen. Harrison. The first steamboat he commanded was the Huron, 
in 1840. Subsequent events connected with the life of this popular 
man are too familiar for repetition here. Capt. L. B. Goldsmith is still 
navigating the lakes, and is now in command of the steamer Jay Cooke. 
He commenced early and promises to stay late. Capt. Fred. S. 
Wheeler commanded the propeller Hercules and steamboat St. 
Louis, and has been dead for several years. Capt. Fred S. Miller 
has been tossed about from an early date. There are those who will 



8o THE LAKE PORTS. 



also remember Capt. R. C. Bristol, who sailed vessels ; also the 
steamers James Madison and Niagara 2d. His death took place not 
long since. Capt. D. P. Nickerson came from the seaboard, and has 
filled numerous important positions both on the salt and fresh waters. 
We remember the Captain on board the steamers Eclipse, Bunker 
Hill, Ohio 2d, Saratoga, and others we do not call to mind. Capt. 
Morris Hazard came from the east, having an experience on the 
rivers, if we are correctly informed. He brought out the steamer 
Milwaukee, at Buffalo, in 1838, and afterward commanded the Con- 
stellation, Empire State, and also sailed the Monroe. In nearly all 
of these steamers he held more or less interest. He died at his resi- 
dence in Buffalo, in 1869. Capt. D. H. McBride died at Milwaukee, 
in March, 187 1, after a lengthy sojourn on the lakes. He had a 
large experience on both sail and steam craft. The schooner Havre 
was the last vessel he commanded, in 1842, and the propeller Iron- 
sides the last steamer. He was second mate of the steamer Erie, 
which was burned on Lake Erie in 1841, and narrowly escped being 
counted among the lost. Capt. Wm. Hinton, for several years past 
pilot of the U. S. steamer Michigan, was first officer of the Erie when 
she was burned, and met also with a narrow escape. He has served 
long and faithfully on board steamers, and commanded the Daniel 
Webster after she was changed to the Black Dan, and knows all 
about it. Capt. James M. Averill, an old lake man, commanded the 
steamer Erie (the little) in '40 or '41, and subsequently sail vessels — 
the Barton and others. Previous to this period the Captain was 
several years at sea. Capt. Heber Squier has been connected 
with the steamers St. Louis, Empire, City of Cleveland, propeller 
Oriental, and others we do not at present remember, with all of which 
he leaves a bright record. Capt. Jacob Traverse commanded the 
steamer Golden Gate, besides several sail craft. Capt. Benjamin A. 
Stannard, numerous sail craft. Capt. John Caldwell, who died at 
Cleveland in 1864, commanded, in 1836, '37 and '38, the schooner 
Hudson, afterwards the Henry Crevolin and Trenton. Subsequently 
for several years he commanded steamers to Lake Superior, and in 
the Northern Transportation Line. He was universally respected. 
Capt. B. G. Sweet dates his lake career back to 183 1, sailing the 
schooner N. C. Baldwin in 1837-8, and took to steamboats somewhere 
about 1845, commanding the propeller Phoenix in 1846, burned on 
Lake Michigan in November of that year. He also sailed the 
Northerner, North Star, propeller Iron City and others. Capt. D. 
Howe, at one time quite prominent on the lakes, was a lower lake 
man, and sailed at one time the schooner Saratoga. In 1837 we find 
him in command of the steamer New York, which craft was bedecked 
with four pipes. In 1840, Capt. Howe was in command of the 
Chesapeake, and in 1844-5 the Empire, at that date the mammoth of 
the lakes. He also sailed the steamer America and others. He 
went to Vermont and there died, some six or eight years since 
Capt. J. C. Benjamin died at Prairieville, Mich., in 1864. He sailed 
the steamboat Ben. Franklin in 1849, ^^"^d previously sail vessels out 



of Cleveland. In crossing the line, we add to those already given of 
Canadian captains, Mcintosh, Dobson, Peter Melish, of schooners 
Lagrange, Wellington and Perseverance; Capt. John Young, of the 
schooner Hope, and others; Capt. E. H. Malloy, of the steamer 
Adelaide and other craft — all now deceased. 




-1;-'.^^ 






-"^*^^--v-r« 'C, 



"~5^.}i?S^'J~^g 



DETROIT RIVER AND ISLANDS. 



The Detroit river, or strait wliicli conveys the surpkis waters of the upper 
lakes into Lalve Erie, is one of the tiuest streams on the continent. It is 
twenty-seven miles long, and from' half a mile to two miles in width. It con- 
stitutes the boundary line between tluj United States and Canada, and commences 
at the foot of Lake St. C'lair, emptying itself into Lake Erie about twenty miles 
below the city of Detroit, which occupies an elevated position on its northern 
bank and immediately opposite the Canadian town of Windsor. It has a per- 
ceptible current, and is navigable for vessels of the largest class. 

There are altogether seventeen islands in the river ; their names are Clay, 
Celeron, Hickory, Sugar, Bois Blanc, Ella, Fox, Rock, Grosse Isle, Stony, 
Fighting, Turkey, Mammy, Judy, Grassy, Mud, Belle and L'lle au Peche. 
The two latter are situated about two miles above Detroit, near the entrance to 
Lake St. Clair. LTle au Peche, belonging to the Canadian government, was 
the occasional home of the celebrated Indian chief Pontiac, who was styled by 
Parkham, in his "History of the Conspiracy of Pontiac," "the Satan of this 
forest paradise." 

Belle Isle, which is about three miles long and two miles Avide, presents a 
strikingly handsome appearance during the summer and fall season, being cov- 
ered with a rich growth of forest trees. During the summer season it is a 
favorite resort for the inhabitants of Detroit and surrounding country. The 
other fifteen islands, most of them small, are situated below Detroit, within the 
first twelve miles of the river after entering it from Lake Erie. The largest 
of these is Grosse Isle. In 1770 Wm. ]\Iacomb purchased this island from the 
Indians, and together with a few French families was t!ie sole occupant for 
many years. Fift}' years ago this l^eautiful spot was a favorite resort for the 
youth of Detroit, who heartily enjoyed a moonlight drive over the frozen river 
to enjo3- a 'hop" beneath the low-roofed homesteads of Grosse Isle. This 
island is nine miles long and two broad, and contains about six thousand acres 
of highly productive land. As is the case with the islands of Put-in-Bay, the 
surrounding water so modifies the climate that grapes, peaches and other fruit 
yield most prolific crops. Edward Lyon, Esq., one of the proprietors of the 
Michigan E.xchange, Detroit, has an extensive vineyard of Delawares, louas 
and Concords, in the cultivation of which he takes great pride. Several hand- 
some private residences have of late years been built on the south side of the 
island, mostly by the gentry of Detroit. 



82 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



An epilogue, written for a play at the Lyon Opera House, bj^ a distinguished 
gentleman of Detroit, thus compliments Grosse Isle : 

*' We like the Island and we like the people, 
We like the little church without a steeple ; 
Also the Dove, like that of Noah's ark. 
Which, sent out in the morning, is always home by dark. 
We view this Lyon Opera house with pride. 
Which draws the people from the other side— 
From Trenton, from Detroit, and Wyandotte, 
And e'n from Maiden, where a Queen they've i;ot ; 
They ali are drawn to this most charming spot." 

Father Hennepin, who was a passenger on the Griffin, the first vessel that 
crossed Lake Erie, in his description of the scenery along the route, says : 
" These islands are the finest in the world ; the strait is finer than Niagara ; the 
banks are vast meadows, and the prospect is terminated with some hills cov- 
ered with vineyards, trees bearing good fruit, and groves and forests so well 
disposed, that one would think nature alone coifld not have made, without the 
help of art, so charming a prospect." 




THE ALEXANDER HOUSE, GROSSE ISLE. 

Dr. Charlevoix, writing in 1731, says : "These islands seem placed on pur- 
pose for the prospect. The land is of wonderful fertility, and the rivers and 
lake abound in fish. Nature seems to have denied it nothing that can make a 
country attractive. There are meadows, fields, lofty forests, and rivers, all so 
happily blended as to equal the most romantic wishes." 

It is, therefore, not at all surprising tliat with the advancement of civiliza- 
tion and the accumidatiou of wealth m this delightful region, modern enter- 
prise should have selected Grosse Isle as a summer resort for the inhabitants 
of the prosperous cities of the western world, or that a palatial hotel should 
occupy the site of the primitive home of the Alexanders of years gone by. The 
Alexander House, under the able control of Mr. Geo. W. Alexander, is one of 
the most beautiful and pleasing structm-es it is possible to conceive. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 83 



Fort Wayne, located near the village of Springwells, just below Detroit, 
lias recently been made by the government one of the strongest fortifications in 
the country. Its location is admirable, occupying a slight eminence completely 
commanding the river, which at that point is narrower than at any other. 

Wi/nndotte, ten miles below Detroit, is a flourishing manufacturing village. 
It is th(^ center of tlie iron manufacturing interests of Michigan The material 
used comes principally from Lake Superior, and is considered equal in quality 
to any in the world. 

Neirtoti, two miles below Wyandotte, and immediately opposite to Grosse 
Isle, is situated on the west bank of the Detroit river. It "has a good dock, is a 
steamboat lauding, and was at one time a place of considerable trade. 



THE ISLANDS OF LAKE ERIE. 

These important Islands, forming a group in connection with other smaller 
ones, are at the southwest end of Lake Erie, in N. Lat. 41° 30'. There are 
other islands attached to Canada, situated immediately to the north, the most 
important of which is Point Pelee Island. These, in a measure, partake of 
the same favorable climatic influence that pervades the American islands, being 
celebrated for a luxurious growth of grapes and other other kinds of fruits, as 
well as for health restoring influences. 

The largest of the American group are Kelley's Island, South Bass or Put- 
in-Bay Island, Middle Bass Island and Noi-th Bass Island. The smaller 
islands are Ballast Island, Gibraltar Island, Sugar Island, Rattlesnalce Island, 
Oreen Island and West Sister Island. The two latter belong to the United 
States Government. The Canadian islands are Point Pelee Island, Middle 
Island, East Sister, Middle Sister, and the Old Hen and Chickens. 

All these are universally celebrated as possessing unusually fine fishing 
grounds ; the Bass Islands derive their names from the large quantities of bass 
taken in the neighborhood during the spring and fall months. Other varieties of 
fish of a fair quality and superior flavor are also taken in the contiguous waters. 

PUT-IN-BAYj_OE SOUTH BASS ISLAND, 

The second in size of this group is distant about sixteen miles from Sanduskj^ 
forty from Toledo, sixty from Detroit, and sixty from Cleveland. Its most 
popular name and by which it has won universal renown as the most delight- 
ful watering place of western America, is derived from the crescent shaped bay 
or harbor which constitutes the northern point of the island, and from which 
Commodore Perry put forth with his fleet previous to the eventful "battle of 
Lake Erie." 

Put-in-Bay has been made historic from its being the headquarters of " Per- 
ry's fleet," prior and after the great naval battle during the war of 1813, and 
possesses one of the mo.st secure harbors on the whole chain of lakes. On 
September 10th, 1813, the memorable conflict took place in these waters. The 
fleet, bearing the red cross of England, consisting of six vessels, carrying sixty- 
four guns, under command of Commodore Barclay, and those of the United 
States under Commodore Perry, met, resulting, as was afterward made known, 
in the following dispatch, written at 4 P. M. of that day : 

" Dear Gexkual : — We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, 
two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. O. II. Perry. 

General Williayn Jones." 

Not one of tiie above group of islands but possesses some historic incident, 
which, if correctly written up, woukl add greatly to the many events which 
have occurred in this portion of Lake Erie. Numerous shipwrecRs, either from 
fire or storm, have taken place on some one of the islands, or waters adjacent, 
and not a few noble vessels, and many lives and valuable cargoes, lie buried 
beneath this plain. 



84 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



During the season of 1864, the steamer Parsons, commanded by Captain At- 
wood, filled an interesting chajiter in tlic history of this historic neighborhood, 

the incidents associa- 
ted Avith which can be 
better presented by 
giving the testimony 
. of Walter O. Ashley, 
q Esq., who was clerk 
3 and part owner of the 
2 steamer Parsons, and 

2 also evidence of the 
z pilot on that occasion, 
^ at the trial of John Y. 
^ Beal, occurring at a 
a time when the rebel- 
S lion excitement was 
~ at its most feverish 

height, from threaten- 
< cd attacks on our lake 

3 steamers by a party of 
^ raiders lurking at dif- 
.j ferent points on the 
- borders of the lakes 

2 and rivers. Detroit and 
S Windsor being, in the 
^ main, their objective 
g points. The ultimate 
5 object of theraidseems 
^ to have been nothing 
f more nor less than the 
* capture of the United 
^ States steamer Michi- 
> gan, and the release of 

3 the prisoners on John- 
^ sou's Island, on San- 

1 dusky Bay. They iu- 
^ tended to capture one 
^ or more steamers, that 

2 the main object might, 
S with greater certainty, 

3 be carried out. "On 
' « the morning of Sep- 

5 tember 19, 1864, the 
^ steamer Parsons left 
i^ her dock at the foot of 
7 Bates street, Detroit, 
^ on her usual trip to 
H Sandusky. Early on 
^ that morning two men 
i came to the boat, as 
' she was lying at Trow- 
2 bridge, Wilcox & Co. 's 
r; dock, and inquired at 
■\^hat time the boat 
would start. Captain 
Atwood replid at 8 
o'clock. They then 
inquired if he would 
stop at Sandwich and take on some passengers. The two men took passage, 
and on stopping at Sandwich fom- or five others got on board. At Maiden, 




where the boat arrived at half -past lune, alK)Ut a dozen more took passage, 
making eighteen in all. 

"About eleven o'clock, when on Lake Erie, one of the men came into the 
pilot-house, and asked Campbell what course he was steering. He replied, the 
regular coursi' from Bar Point to North Bass Island. lie then re([uist('d the 
loan of the spy-glass, which was granted. When within six miles of the Middle 
Sister, the same man inciuired what course the steamer was on, which informa- 
tion was given him. After dinner seven or eight of the men went upon deck 
to take observations, but in the meantime Camjibell went below, his watch as 
pilot being off at noon, after which time it was customary for him to relieve 
the mate below. Some of the passengers were at cards in the saloon, and one 
of them made the remark that there was a suspicious crowd on l)oard, some of 
them being armed with revolvers. Campbell replied that some of them looked 
like Southerners. The Parsons landed at North Bass Island, and then proceeded 
to Put-in-Bay, and thence to Middle Bass Island, where Captain Atwood left 
the boat, that being his residence, the mate taking charge. Left Middle Bass 
for Kellev's Island, where eight or ten passengers were taken, making the whole 
number of passengers between forty and fifty, men, women and ciiildren. 

" Campbell went to the lower deck to trim the boat, and happened to look 
into the ladies' cabin, where he noticed certain mysterious movements among 
the strangers, such as revolvers, and casting furtive glances as if to see if they 
were observed. Some of them were also seen in squads, talking in a very low 
tone. The boat left Kelley's Island on her regular time, for Cedar Point. 
Campbell went into the saloon, and while there heard the report of a pistol, 
followed bv a scream. He reached the deck, and saAv one of the rebels with a 
cocked revolver in one hand and an axe in the other, running after the fireman. 
Heard the exclamation : ' Go down below to forward hatch, or I'll blow your 
brains out.' The fireman, however, got away, and ran upon the upper deck. 
The rebel turned to Cam])bell and ordered him to go below, which he refused 
to do, saying that was not his place. He leveled his revolver and fired, the 
ball passing between his legs. He went upon deck, when he observed a man 
known as the 'Colonel,' who had taken the boat in charge. The mate was in 
durance, and five of the rebels were at the steps reaching to the lower decks, 
each armed with one or two revolvers and an axe. 

' ' The passengers and crew had been thrust forward on the deck known as 
the 'promenade deck,' where they were being examined singly, to see if they 
had any weapons, and after an examination they were taken aft into the cabin. 
This was about four o'clock. After this part of the programme was concluded, 
they were all ordered down into the hold, excepting the ladies and children and 
a few elderly men, who were placed in the cabin. 

"Two of the deck hands were ordered on deck to throw overboard some 
heavy freight, mostly pig iron, after which the scuttles were closed down. 
Campbell was ordered to run the boat back to Maiden, keeping at the usual 
distance from Kelley's Island, for fear of being known. They started, and pro- 
ceeded some distance, but in the meantime the fuel getting low, the ' Colonel ' 
inquired where some could be procured, to which the pilot replied only at Mid- 
dle Bass or Put-in-Bay He was then ordered to head wherever he could get a 
supply, and he steered for Middle Bass, where they arrived about dusk. The 
whistle was sounded, and two men responded by taking the lines and making 
them fast. Four of the females immediately jumped upon the dock, and were 
ordered on board. Three shots were fired at them, but none took effect. 

" The small steamer Island Queen, Capt. Orr, of Sandusky, hove in sight, 
when the ' Colonel ' ordered his men forward, and told them to keep a good 
watch on deck. Thi'ee or four men were placed forward, and the rest aft, 
except three who were stationed on the dock. The Island Queen came up and 
landed alongside of the Parsons, when Capt. Orr inquired Avhy the latter had 
not gone to Sandusky, but received no answer. A number of the rebels rushed 
on board the Queen, with revolvers and axes in their hands. Capt. Orr knew 
not what to make of these proceedings, but he rang the bell to go ahead. One 



86 THE LAKE PORTS. 



of the rebels went into the engine-room and ordered the engineer to stop. Upon 
refusing he was shot in tli" face, the hall coming out of his cheek. 

"The Queen was then stripped of everything valuable, and the passengers of 
both boats were sent on shore. Capt. Orr and his engineer were retained on the 
Parsons. All the Parsons' officers and crew were also retained, excepting Capt. 
Atwood anil the clerk (Capt. Atwood having got on board when the boat 
touched at JNIiddle Bass the second time). Campbell was then ordered to head 
for Sandusky, the Queen in tow. Arriving near Ballast Island the Queen was 
scuttled and sunk. Campbell was then ordei'ed to head for Maiden. It was 
their avowed intention to go to Johnson's Island to make an attack on the United 
States steamer Michigan. The theory that such an attack was in their original 
programme conflicts with the first return toward Maiden, and then reversing 
their course to procure fuel. On the way up the river Campbell was ordered to 
be sure and take the British channel, and keep as close as possible to the Canada 
shore. They did not stop at Maiden, but made for Sandwich Point, barely two 
miles below Detroit, in broad dayliglitiu the morning, where they landed. The 
boat was stripped of everything vakiable, which, with the baggage, was taken 
ashore, and tiie latter was rifled and everything carried off." 

In due time they were captured and suffered the penalty of their misde- 
meanors, the punishment, in one instance, being death, and of the others, 
imprisonment. 

The thousand historic memories which mingle with the tales and traditions 
of this spot, are heightened by the glorious gifts dame nature has bestowed upon 
it. The Bay is conceded to be the loveliest sheet of water on any of the north- 
ern lakes. Surrounded by i.slands clothed in emerald green, their rocky fronts 
hurling back the restless waters of the lake, as if in defiance of its ceaseless 
efforts to undermine and sweep away the sylvan treasures of which they are 
the custodians. The island's sm-face occupies over 1,5<J0 acres, and many 
private individuals have here handsome summer residences which adds largely 
to the general beauty ©f the surroundings. 

The conformation of the island is peculiar and presents a rich field for the 
geologist. The Perry cave, situate near the center of the island, is annually 
visited by thousands of admiring visitors. It has been considerably improved 
and rendered more commodious for the visiting public, by a pleasing distribu- 
tion of a number of lamps that make it as bright as day. The scenery of the 
cave is most enchanting. The depth of the cave is about 50 feet, with a length 
of 15 rods. The roof, from 4 to 10 feet high, spreads out with a small body of 
water at its base. When lighted up, it presents a grand appearance. 

The climate of the island is peculiarly adapted to health and comfort. No 
dews fall and the dry, pure air is strangely beneficial to invalids, especially 
those suffering from bronchial or lung diseases. During the summer and early 
fall months the temperature usually ranges from 60° to 80° Fahrenheit, giving 
strength and vitality to the human frame, most perceptibly felt by those visiting 
this region from a more southern altitude. Hei'e, all those seeking health and 
pleasure, should yearly resort, as most astonishing benefit has been found by 
those laboring under respiratory diseases, as well as general debility. We must 
not forget to mention the hotel accommodations, which are everything that 
could be desired. The Put-in-Bay House, of which Col. Saveeney is the pro- 
prietor, and the Beebe House, kept by Henry Beebe, Esci-, are two of the hand- 
somest and best appointed hotels in America. 

Put-in-Bay has, for the past few years, become noted as a fishing ground. 
The waters abound with all varieties of the finny tribe, for which Lake Erie is 
so justly celebrated. Black and white' bass, pickerel, pike, muscaluuge and 
whitefish, make it a favorite resort for the disciples of Izaak Walton, and the 
facilities for prosecuting this unrivaled pastime, are in all respects first class 
and charming. 

The fish resort to the shoals that put out from the shores of the islands, thus 
providing a natural protection which cannot be found on any single island. 
This fact has induced several fishing clubs to establish themselves on this island ; 
two have already completed their es'tablishments. The fishing interest forms so 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



87 



s liavc 



important a feature in the pastimes of the island that two small steamer 
been litted up express- 
ly for the use of jiarties 
desirous of enjo_ving 
this eharmint;; ]iastime. 
It is said that there 
are more convenienees 
in the way of steam- 
boats, row boats, lioat 
houses, minnows and 
fishing iiaraphernalia 
in gentual at Put-in- 
Bay than in the whole 
length and breadth of 
the Lake besides. 

H 
W 

SOUTH BASS ISLAND. C" 

> 

The second in size of c 
this celebrated grouji, c 
contains about 1,5U0 ^^ 
acres of superior land, ^ 
being underlaid with ^ 
limestone ; there are r 
some 500 acres devoted ^ 
to the cultivation of -^ 
grapes, chiefly of the > 
Catawbaand Delaware ^ 
species; apples plums, g 
cherries peaches, pears ^ 
and other fruit, ali-o ^ 
flourish here, and are c 
pi'oduced in consider- " 
a^le quantities. w 

•z 

NOHTH BASS ISLAND, '^ 

O 

Contains about '^00 ^ 
acres of land, and is a 
admirably located and ^■ 
equally pleasant. ^ 
(jlrapes and almost ^ 
every other kind of T 
fruit grow in richest 
abundance. 

GIBRALTAR ISLAND. 

Lying in Put in-Bay 
is a small island, most- 
ly covered with foj'cst 
trees, rising beautiful- 
ly from the water's 
edge. It is owned by 
Jay Cooke, Esq., who 
has erected a magnifi- 
cent residence thereon. 

KELLET'S ISLAND 

Is the largest of the American group, and contains upward of twenty-eight 
hundred acres of land, which is for the most i)art under a high state of cultivation; 




about one-third is devoted to the culture of grapes. Its population is about one 
thousand. The principal commercial interests consist in the manufacture of 
wines, and quarrying limestone, immense quantities of which are annually 
shipped to various parts of the States, for building, paving and smelting 
purposes. 

Antiquarians and geologists will find ample field to gratifj^ their curiosity. 
"The Inscription Rocks "and other Indian relics are particularly mteresting, 
and are conclu-ive evidences of a prolonged occupancy of this region in the 
aboriginal period. Inscription rock is 32 by 21 feet, and is part of the same lime- 
stone strata as the island from which it has been separated by lake action. The top 
presents a smooth and polished surface, like all the stone of this neighborhood, 
where the soil is removed, suggesting the belief that it is produced bj^ glacial 
attrition. Upon this the peculiar inscriptions are cut. The figures and charac- 
ters are deeply sunk in the rock, and yet it presents all its smoothness of surface, 
as if they had been exposed to the polishing or wearing influence of water. The 
sculpture is pronounced to be by far the most extensive, best executed and well 
preserved inscription of the antiquarian period ever found in America ; it is in 
the picturgraphic character of the nation, and its leading symbols are easily 
iuterpretecl. The human figures, the pipes, the smoking group, the presents 
and other objects denote tribes, negotiations, crimes, turmoils, etc., which tell 
a story of thrilling interest, in which the European plays a prominent part. The 
whole inscription is manifestly connected with the occupation of the shores of 
this lake by the "Eries,"or "Mad Spirits," of the coming of the " Wyan- 
dottes," of the final triumph of the " Iroquois," and the extermination of the 
people who left their name on the lake. 

In addition to these memorials of an almost forgotten people, there are the 
remains of three Indian forts upon this island. The walls, gateways and sally 
ports were well defined before these islands became the homes of agriculturists, 
but at the present time only fragments of an embankment remain, measuring 
twelve hundred and forty-six feet around the crescent shaperl part, and about 
four hundred feet on the rock bank of the island. 

There are also evidences of a second fort having existed, facing on the lake, 
and on the north shore will be found a second specimen of inscription rocks. 
The gravelly beach of this island is rich in petrifactions, fossils and shells, and 
affords a never-e ding source of enjoyment to visitors. In different parts of 
the island rare specimens of crystals and carbonates of the glacial period maj"^ 
be found in the deep grooves of the limestone rocks. 







-^Jfc.^ 




u'jtWMI'l.'il 



"=^^5^7 



WATER ST., SANDUSKY WEST HOUSE AND BOAT LANDING. 



THE PORT OF DETROIT. 




VIEW OF CITY HALL, DETROIT. 

|ETROIT, the chief city of Michigan, is situated on the banks 
of the Detroit river, a noble stream, or rather strait, twenty 
miles long, connecting Lakes Erie and St. Clair, and affording 
the best harbor on the entire chain of the great lakes. The 
river varies in width from one-half mile to a mile, has a current of 
from two to three miles an hour, and is noted for the clearness and 
purity of its deep, fish-teeming waters. The city extends along the 
bank for about seven miles, and is built up for about two and one- 
half miles from the water. For at least six miles the river front is 
lined with mills, dry docks, ship yards, foundries, grain elevators, 
railway depots and warehouses. For a short distance from the river 
bank the ground rises gradually, and then becomes perfectly level, 
furnishing an admirable site for a large city. Detroit is laid out 
upon two plans : the one that of a circle with avenues radiating from 
the Grand Circus as a center, the other that of streets crossing each 
other at right angles. The result is a slight degree of intricacy in 
certain localities, which inconvenience is more than compensated by 
1 

Detroit. 



90 THE LAKE PORTS. 



a number of little triangular parks which diversify and ornament the 
place. The avenues are from one hundred to two hundred feet 
wide; the streets vary in width from fifty to one hundred feet, and 
are generally shaded by an abundance of trees. The site of Detroit 
was visited by the French as early as 1610; but no permanent set- 
tlement was made until 1701, when Fort Pontchartrain was built. 
In 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and immediately 
afterward was besieged for eleven months by Pontiac, in his attempt 
to expel the whites from that region. In 1783 Detroit was ceded to 
the United States, but the Americans did not take possession of it 
till 1796. During the War of 181 2 it fell into the hands of the Brit- 
ish, but was recaptured in 1813. It was incorporated as a city in 
1824, when its population was less than two thousand, and in 1876 
had one one hundred and three thousand inhabitants. The manu- 
factures of the city are numerous and important, including extensive 
iron works and machine shops, three railroad-car factories, flour 
mills, breweries, and immense tobacco and cigar factories. The 
shipping interests are also large, while pork and fish packing employ 
numerous hands. 

The principal streets of the city are Jefferson avenue, parallel 
with the river; Woodward avenue, which crosses the former at right 
angles, and divides the city into two nearly equal parts ; and Fort 
street, Michigan avenue. Grand River avenue and Gratiot street, at 
various angles with Woodward avenue. West Fort street is a broad 
and beautiful street, lined with elegant residences; and Lafayette 
avenue is a fashionable street. Griswold street is the Wall Street of 
the city. The Grand Circus, the principal park, is semicircular in 
form, and is divided by Woodward avenue into two quadrants, each 
containing a fountain. About one-third of a mile from the Grand 
Circus is the Campus Martins, an open space six hundred feet long 
and two hundred and fifty feet wide, which is crossed by Woodward 
and Michigan avenues, and from whidh radiate Monroe avenue and 
Fort street. Facing the Campus Martins on the west is the new City 
Hall, a handsome structure, two hundred feet long, ninety feet wide, 
and one hundred and eighty feet high to the top of the tower, com- 
pleted in 187 1, at a cost of $875,000. It is built of sandstone in the 
Italian style, and consists of three stories above the basement, with a 
Mansard roof. In the square in front of the City Hall is a fine 
Soldiers' Monument, erected in memory of the Michigan soldiers 
who fell in tlie civil war. Facing the Campus Martins on the north 
is the Opera House ; and in Fort street is Whitney's Opera House, 
one of the finest in the country. The Custom House, which also 
contains the Post-Office, is a large stone building in Griswold street. 
The Board of Trade Bu'lding is another fine edifice, but is badly 
located in Woodbridge street, near the river, where its fine propor- 
tions cannot be seen to advantage. The Freight Depot of the Michi- 
gan Central Railroad is one of the most noteworthy structures in the 
city It stands on the wharf, and consists of a single room, twelve 
hundred and fifty feet long and one hundred and two feet wide, cov- 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



91 




HOAKL) Ot IRADE BUILDING 

ered by a self-sustaining roof of corrugated iron. In the immediate 
vicinity are the great Wheat Elevator of the company, from the cupola 
of which a superb view of the city, liver, and Lakes St. Clair and 
Erie, may be had; and the Round House, in which si.xteen locomo- 
tives stand under a dome surpassed in size only by that of the capitol 
at Washington. Besides the opera houses, there are the German 
Stadt Theater, and several large public halls. The Young Men's 
Christian Association has a large building in Farmer street, with 
library, gymnasium, restaurant, public hall, etc. 

The churches of Detroit are noted for their number and beauty. 
St. Anne's (Roman Catholic), Earned street, corner of Bates, is the 
oldest church in the city, and is noted for its fine choir. The 
Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul (Roman Catholic), Jefferson ave- 
nue, corner of St. Antoine street, is the largest church edifice in the 
State, and has an imposing interior. St. Paul's (Episcopal), corner 
Congress and Shelby streets, is the parent church of the diocese, and 
is famous for its beautiful roof, which is self-sustaining; there is not 
a pillar in the building. Other handsome Episcopal churches are 
Christ's, in Jefferson avenue, above Hastings street; St. John's, in 
Woodward avenue; and Grace, in Fort street. The Fort Street 
Presbyterian (Fort street corner Third) has the handsomest front of 



92 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



any church in the city. The Central Church (Methodist), in Wood- 
ward avenue, above the Grand Circus, has a richly decorated inte- 
rior. The First Presbyterian, in State street ; the Jefferson Avenue 
Presbyterian, above Rivard street ; and the First Congregational, 
Fort street corner of Wayne, are all fine edifices. There are several 
libraries in the city, of which the principal are the Public Library, 
containing thirty-seven thousand volumes, and that of the Young 
Men's Society, containing fourteen thousand. The Convent of the 
Sacred Heart, in Jefferson avenue, near St. Antoine street, is a large 
and very beautiful building. The House of Correction, in the north 
portion of the city, is considered one of the best reformatory prisons 
in the country. Directly opposite is a home for discharged female 
prisoners, who are received here and furnished with work until places 
can be found for them out of reach of the evil influences previously 
surrounding. The United States Marine Hospital, on the bank of 
the river, just above the city, commands a fine view of the Canada 
shore. Elmvvood Cemetery is a beautiful burying ground, within 
the city limits (reached by horse cars). Woodmere Cemetery, on 
high ground, four miles west of the city, is of recent origin. 

Fort Wayne is a bastioned redoubt, about three miles below the 
Michigan Central Depot, standing upon the bank of the river and 
completely commanding the channel. The Fort Street and Elmwood 
horse cars run within half a mile of it, and it is also a favorite point 
to which rides and drives are taken. Belle Isle, an island in the river 
opposite the upper limit of the city, is a favorite resort for picnics. 
Grosse Point, seven miles above the city, is a point of land project- 
ing into Lake St. Clair. It is noted for its cherry orchards, and is 
the terminus of a beautiful drive over a good road. Grosse Isle, 
eighteen miles below the city, is an island three miles long by one 
mile wide, and is a favorite resort of the wealthier inhabitants of 
Detroit, many of whom have beautiful summer residences upon it. 
Put-in-Bay Islands, a group of islands in Lake Erie, near the mouth 
of Detroit river, is a favorite summer resort. From Detroit there is 
a daily steamer in summer to Kelly's Island, the largest of the group. 




DAVIS & CO.'S FISHING TUG GRAYLING. SEE NEXT PAGE. 



S. H. DAVIS &. CO., 

Fish MKHcifANTs, 31 Woodwaud Avknuk, Detkoit, Mich. 



The fish which al)()und in the lakes and rivers of Northwestern America 
have always formed a conspicuous itein in the commerce of the country. Long 
before its discovery the Inilian delighted to build his camp fires near these in- 
land seas that he might spear and dry a large (quantity of fish for his winter 
use, and Europeans, upon settling here, chose; the same spots for almost 
exactly the same reasons. At the same time but little difference existed 
in their mode of capturing them, indeed their implements were almost as 
rude in construction as those of their dusky bretheren, and had it nf)t 
been for the hooiv and line and still more uncertain dredge net they would 
have been much less successful, for the Indian almost invariably spears 
a fish every time he makes a thrust, whereas the European as a rule 
succeds in capturing but a few fish after several hours laborious watch- 
ing. For the past fifty years but little improvement has been made in that 
brancii knowai as gill net fishing. As in'imitively used, the net was sunk by 
means of stones or jiieces of iron of irregular shape and weight, and were 
buoyed at a proper distance from the bottom (from five to six feet) by shingles, 
pieces of wood or bark, or any light substance that came most readily to hand. 
The disadvantages under which tiie fisherman labored from the use of these and 
similar appliances can readily be imagined. The most disastrous of 
which was the almost certain entanglement of the floats and sinkers iu the 
meshes of the net, often breaking them and causing considerable loss and de- 
lay to the operators. That so long a time should have elapsed, during which so 
many inventions in almost every other branch of industry have been made, 
without some improvement upon this mfthod of fishing having been thought of 
is astonishing. With the yearly iucreaslng demand for all kinds of lake and 
river fish, either fresh or dried, both in this and other countries, no proportion- 
ate facilities have been introduced whereby expense and labor could be econo 
mized. In view of these facts, Messrs. S. H. Davis & Co., of Detroit (for 
many years known throughout the United States and Canada as the inventors 
and patentees of refrigerator cars, fish freezing pans, &c.) have devoted consid- 
erable time and money to perfecting a system of floats and sinkers that will 

remedy all the anno3'auces heretofore 
experienced by gill-net fishermen. The 
result of their labors has been the produc- 
tion of an eliptical glass globe (see 
fig. 1) containing one and a half cubic 
inches of air and weighing thirteen ounces. 
These egg-shaped globes are groved 
lengthwise so that a cord can be securely 
passed round them and connected with 
the side line. This is used to replace the 
shingles, pieces of bark, or the more re- 
cently used wooden floats (see fig. 2.) It 
will be readily seen that these globes pre- 
vent any disarrangement or breakiog of 
the nets, as they are too large to fall through or become 
entangled in the meshes, at the same time securing a 
regular buoyancy of the net, all l)eiug of the same grav- 
ity and not affected by water as the floats constructed of 
porous substauces must be, more or less. The next im- 
portant feature is the sinker, and this has undei-goue as 
decided a transformation, through the ingenuity of these 
gentlemen, as the float. The sinker in most general use 
at the present day consists of a piece of lead pipe about 
four inches long (see fig. 3.) This produces the same 



"^XCvA 





94 



THE LAKE PORTS. 




disasters as any of the. previous methods adopted, and 
has almost invariably tangled the net so badly so to ren- 
der the catch most uncertain. The sinker invented, now 
used, by Messrs. S. H. Davis & Co. consists of a gal- 
vanized iron ring about four inches in circumference 
(see tig. 4) and as in the case of the float, unable, by their 
form, to create confusion in the nets. In setting the nets 
they are placed in what is known among fishermen, about 
thirty nets, thirty-five rods in length, fonuing a gang. 
The side lines instead of ending at the mesh part, run on 
a few feet further, and are attached to a wooden rod to 
which is fastened a leading line about six hundred feet 
long. At the further end is a buoy, upon which is a flag 
to mark the location of the nets. A similar arrangement 
at each end of the net completes it. Tn placing the net 
the first buoy flag is thrown out, to whicli is attached the 
leading line and Avhich in turn is followed by the net. The 
sinker (fig. 4) immediately carries this to the bottom, the 
glass floats (tig. 1) keeping the nets in a perpendicular ]50si- 
tion at the bottom of the lake. The net having successfully 
gone over the stern, the latter end of the leading line, with anchor and flag 
buoy attached, follows. In taking up the net the same course is pursued, the 
flag buoys at one end being taken in over the bow, and the leading line, net, 
second leading line, with its flag buoy, is hauled in hand over hand. The vessel 
of course moves in the required direction as the nets are paid out or taken in. 
The usual depth of water in which the nets are set is from two to three hundred 
feet, and tlie meshes being about two inches square catch the fish by the gills 
as they attempt to swim tlirough. The nets are generally lifted every two days, 
fresh ones taking their places, while the ones just used are put through a 
cleansing process, called tanning. The steam fishing tug, "Greyling." an 
illustration of which appears on page four, is deserving of especial mention. 
It is a boat of about seventeen tons burthen, and capable of standing almost 
any kind of weather. It is clipper built, a-id capable of making fourteen 
miles an hour. Its appointments are in aM respects perfect, being furnished 
with everything that a vessel of its description should have, as well as those 
requisites necessary for the convenient performance of the traflic in which it is 
engaged. As has before been mentioned, the inventors of this improved gill- 
net are also the patentees of refrigerator cars and improved facilities for freez- 
ing fish. A full description of which will be furnished on application. 

ALLEN, SHELDON &. CO., Dry Goods. 

Scientific experiments and observation, the work of centuries, have de- 
veloped but four materials capable of being used as clothing for the human 
family, and it is admitted by all that cotton takes the lead as the material 
universally used for tliis purpose. For many years the cotton mills of Lanca- 
shire, England, were the only ones capal)le of producing a marketable fabric ; 
but of late years America has proved a formidable rival. To such an extent 
indeed has the skill in the home manufacture of these goods attained, tiiat 
England imports large quantities for her own use. It is therefore reasonable 
to state that a house, whose princii)al trade is devoted to cotton fabrics, should, 
with a liberal capital, large exjierience, and universal patronage, rank as one 
of the first business concerns in Michigan. The subject of this sketch has for 
many years been largely engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade and occu- 
pies very large and elegant stores at Nos. 37, 89 and 41 Woodward avenue. The 
extensive trade of this house lies through Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and adjoin- 
ing States, and several travelers, as well as a large staff of com])etent salesmen, 
are emjjloyed. This house stands foremost as one of the leading commercial 
spirits of the West, and is universally esteemed as a corner stone in the great 
fabric of connnercial ]n-osperity raised by the energy and perseverance of 
Detroit's merchant princes. 



THE LARli I'OK'IS. 



95 



MICHIGAN EXCHANGE HOTEL, 

Lyon & Porter, Proprietors. 

This fine hotel is siluatcd at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Shelby street, 
beinc in the central part of the city, convenient to the (lei)()ts. steamboat land- 
ins^si ferry and i)ostonice. It is a'larn'e, fine looldni;- buiKilni,^ has a frontai;-e 
on Jefferson avenue of 140 feet, 200 feet on Shelby street, and on Woodbridge 
street 140 fcu't, facing the Board of Trade building, and c;onnnanding an invit- 
ing view of the beautiful Detroit river, which in the summer months attracts 
thousands of people to this great and growing city, where forty years ago the 
hotel business was only in its infancy. Like all Western enter|)rises. the Mioni- 
(JAN Exchange has been truly successful, and today has a widespread reputa- 
tion for its sjilendid appointments. The tables are loaded with tiie best the 
market affords, and are carefully watched over by a competent caterer. The 
dining room is par excellerice, being the largest in the State, and, like every 
room in the house, is kept in tip-top order, and patronized by the great travel- 
ing public, as its well-filled register will testify. One important and remark- 
able feature! in connection with this hotel, is the facility for escape in case of 
fire, with broad halls and wide staircases. From the office floor to the top story 
runs a mammoth steam elevator, which is elegantly upholstered. The house 
contains over 200 sleeping rooms and capacious parlors, and can easil}' accom- 
modate 500 guests. In fact, the Miciiigan Exchange is unsurpassed, and the 
most poi)ular hotel outside of New York, and a great favoi-ite with commercial 
men. The proprietors, jVIessrs. Lyon & Porter, are gentlemen in every sense 
of the word, and their clerks, Messrs. C. S. fiaton and Harry Smith are univer- 
sally esteemed for their politeness and assiduous attention to the wants of their 
patrons. 



Michigan 

Jefferson Avenne, Corner Shelby Street, 



Exchange. 



DETROIT, MICH. 




This Hotel is one of the Oldest and most Celebrated in Detroit; il occupies 
nearly an entire square, and has a frontage of 140 feet on JeU'erson Ave., 
(the principal thoroughfare of the city), and 200 feet on Shelby Street. 



HENKY POKTEt{,r"° " "^" • 



96 THE LAKE PORTS. 



EDSON, MOORE & CO., 

Wholesai,e Dry Goods. 

This house, lhou<;h established only about five years since, is promi- 
nent and in tlie front rank of our largest business houses, its sales aggre- 
gating f 1,500,000 annually, and that too without the help of traveling sales- 
men or agents. The members of the firm are men of ripe experience and 
ability, having been previously connected with the leading great houses of 
the country, which connections brought to them a very extensive business 
acquaintance. The building occupied by the firm is 188, 190 and 192 
Jefferson avenue, at the corner of Bates street ; it has a frontage of sixty-five 
feet, and a depth of one hundred feet, having a basement and four floors. A 
steam elevator runs from the first to the fourth floor, where the pa(;king is 
done. The first floor is devoted to a general line of dress goods, except a 
portion in the rear, which is set apart and conveniently furnished as a depart- 
ment for the accountants. The light and airy basement is filled with what is 
technically called domestics. On the second floor is a mammoth stock of 
white goods and notions, and the third fioor is devoted to woolen cloths and 
flanneis of every description. The house carries an extensive stock of the 
latest and most fashionable goods for female wear, and impoi't extensively of 
dress goods, white goods and notions. The business of the house extends 
over a wide territory, embracing the States of Michigan, Western Indiana 
and Ohio. The individuals of the firm are J.\mp:s L. Edson, George F. 
Moore, R.\nsom Gillis, Cn.\Ri,Es Buncher, and STEniEN Baldwin, 
special. Country merchants and traders will do well to call on this firm 
before purchasing their fall stocks. 

DETROIT MACHIIMERY DEPOT. 

The above concern, of which Mr. James Jeuks is the proprietor, is the oldest 
house of the kind in the West, having been established nearly a (juarter of a 
century ago. It (occupies two stories of a fine building at 10 and 18 Atwater 
street, having a frontage of 50 feet by a depth of 120. The house carries a 
very heavy stock of all kinds of machinery, having the agency for J. A. Fay & 
Co., C. B. Rogers & Co , Buckeye Engine Co., VVitherby, Rugg it Richardson, 
Richards. London & Kelley and other first class manufacturers. Tj:ey also 
deal in all kinds of wood and iron W'orking machinerj', saw mills. Hall's patent 
shingle macJiines, engine boilers, boiler feeders. Dean & Co's. steam pumps, 
Henry Disstue it Sons saws, Jas. T. Noycr & Sons mill machinery, belting &c. 
The large and comjirehensive stock carried by tliis house, compai-ed with the 
sterling integrity with whicli all business "transactions are coupled, have 
gained for it a large and extensive patronage, the annual sales aggregating 
$300,000, and is extending into the States of Colorado, Utah, Texas, Arkansas, 
Minnesota. New Yors and flu; Canadas. It is with great pleasure we refer to a 
house so deserving of notice as the one in (pxestion, at once a credit to their 
city and the West. 



JAMES JENKS, 

Dealer in all kinds of 

MACHINERY AND SUPPLIES, EMERY WHEELS AND GRINDERS, 

16 and 18 Atwater Street K., Detroit, Micliigan. 

|^~ Agent for J. A. Fay & Co , C. B Rosrers & Co,. Uiickeye Engine Co., Witiierby, 
Rugg & Rii'haidsoii, Richards, London & Kelly, and other lir.sr-class tnHiiufactiirers. 
Wood and Iron Working Machinery. >a\v Mills, Hall's Patent Shingle Machines, 
Henry Uisstue &Sotis* Saws, J no. T. ^oys & .Sons' Mill viachlnery. Deam & Co.'s Steam 
Pumps, Saws, lielting. Engines, Uoilers, Steam Pumps, lioiler Feeders, etc. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



97 



C. J. WHITNEY & CO. 

This large and flourishiiig house is one of tlie oldest of the kind in the eity, 
viz: wholesale an(J retail nmsie dealers. Their premises are finely loeated on 
Fort Street West, and consist of a handsome four story building, having a 
frontage of forty feet by a depth of one hundred and thirty. The genera! appear- 
ances of the interior of their sliow room is strii<ing and lieautiful ; thousands of 
pieces of sheet mu.sic are neatly arraiigrd in cases and (dassitied, extending from 
floor to ceiling, a gallery encircling tliis llooi- to allow of access to tiie upper tiers, 
while a beautiful (circular show case containing a Hue assortment of brass and 
other musical instruments tastefully arranged, together with the handsome 
offices, combine to render the store, (me of the masterpieces of art, tlie most 
handsome in the citJ^ Vlessrs. Whitney & Co. are the general western agents 
for the Chickering pianos and Estey organs, both instruments of great merit, 
and to which thei'e are few e(iuals and no superiors in the market. They 
keep constantlj' on hand a comi)lete assortment of the latest musical com])o- 
aitions, and are in a position to furnish to order any kind of musical merchan- 
dise obtainable. This is jjcrhaps the largest music house in the West ; certainly 
it ranks very high. Twenty salesmen are employed, and the business receipts 
aggregate .'|)()0,U00 annually, their trade extending throughout the entire 
Western States. Mr. Whitney was the builder of the handsome Opera House 
that bears his name, and which is a great acquisition to our city, both in an 
arcliitectin-al and commercial point of view. TJie gentlemen comprising the firm 
are jMr. C. J. Whitney and Mr. I. C. V. Wheet, who was admitted to partnership 
in 1870. 

CHICKERING PIANOS. 

ESTEY ORGANS. 




C. J. WHITNEY &o 

Grerieral -Argents, 
DETROIT, 



OO. 



MICIIIGxiN. 



KING'S NEW TEA STORE. 

This well known and liighly successful tea dealer has lately opened a branch 
at No. 1 Russell House iVlock, Michigan Grand Avenue. The store has been 
handsomely decorated and presents a veiy stylisli ap])earance. Mr. King has 
for many years been associated with tlie tea trade and understands it thoroughly, 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



having three other stores in different parts of the city, all of whicli, as well as 
tliis branch,^ do an extensive trade. One of the secrets of Mr. King's popularity 
is the fact of liis making a present to every purcliaser of a ])oiind of tea of a 
fancy or useful article, such as a cup and saucer, goblet, fancy pin box and 
other ornamental and domestic articles innumerable. Should the purchaser 
wish a more expensive gift than that given with a pound of tea, a check is given 
and when these have sufficiently accumulated the customer is allowed to chose 
among a large and elegant assortment of articles, including clocks, vases, coffee 
mills, china ware, &c., &c. With no one is this sj'stem more successfully 
carried out than Mr. Kixg, his display of gifts being certainly the most exten- 
sive and useful. 

RiNGJ-'s Tea Storks 

ARE RENOWNED FOR KEEPING 

The Best Teas and Coffees, 

AT LOWEST PRICES, 
And giving handsome Presents to all their Customers. 



HEADQUARTERS: 

142 GEATOIT AVENUE, CORNER BEAUBIEN STREET. 

BRANCH STORES: 

Number One Russell House Block. 
311 Michigan Avenue, bet. 5th & 6th Sts. | 3.55 Grand River Avenue, cor. 5th St. 

DUNN BROTHERS, Dry Goods, 

179 jEFFiiusoN Avenue. 

This well-known house has for a long time almost controlled the trade of 
rubber goods in this city, and the sxiperior (piality of the article supplied by 
them has gained for the house a wide-spread popularity. Rubber hose, belt- 
ing, rubber toys, cuspadores, and indeed everything represented in this line 
of manufactures are kept constantly on hand, and no pains are spared to 
supply customers with the best productions and the most recent improve- 
ments. Fire companies, vessel owners and mill men will do well to patronize 
this house. 

W. C. DUNN. E. DUNN. 

Wholes;ile and Retail Dealere in 

CyORUBBER QOODSOO 

ITS) Jeffehson Avenue, 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 

ADAM COUSE. 

The above named gentleman has been for many years connected with tlie 
piano forte and organ trade. Until recently he occupied the second floor of No. 
39 Monroe avenue, but finding that jilace too small for his largely increased 
business, he removed to his present liandsome and commodious show rooms on 
the ground floor at No. 23. His stock of pianos, organs, inelodeons, etc., is 
large and fine, and are sold at such extremely low i)rices, tliat cannot fail to 
attract buyers. Mr. Couse is one of the most successful merchants who have 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



99 



introdiiced in the city tlie monthly payment system. A magiiiliceiit instrument 
may thus be purehastnl in a very sliort time, by this a(liniral)le system. Many 
peisous are the liappy i)ossessoi's of an elegant piano, organ or melodeon, 
materially helping tro niake a home liappy. that has been purc^liased in this easy 
manner. Mr. Cousk has a liiK; lot of instruments to choose from, and parties 
iu want of such cannot do better than pay a visit to his superb roon\s. 

PIANOS AND ORGANS 




WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, 

50 TO 75 PER CENT. DISCOUNT TO DEALERS 

Linde.man's 3-Stringed Cycloid Grands. 

BoARDMAN & Gray's ;3-Stringed Square Grands. 

Mathushek's 3-Stringed Orchestral Pianos. 
Decker's Gold Medal Pianos. 

The M.yssachusetts Organ. (Unsurpassed.) 

5t^°" Send for confidential prices. Orders from a thousand miles, I guar- 
antee the instruments to come all right and satisfactory. 

23 Monroe Avenue, Detroit. ADAM COUSE. 



E. W. VOIGT, Milwaukee Brewery. 

Established in 1856 by Mr. C. W. Voigt, on a small scale, selling only 
about three thousand barrels of lager per annum, it has increased very 
rapidly, until this year the sales will amount to upwards of twenty-one 
thousand barrels. In 1871 the business went into the hands of E. W. Votgt, 
son of C. W. Voigt, and to his tact and untiring energy is due the rapid 
increase and success of this establishment. It is the largest brewery in 
Michigan, and the excellence of the article made here is justly celebrated. 
Mr. Voigt will consume this year fifty-two thousand bushels of malt, thirty- 
two thoustmd pounds of hops, and will use five hundred tons of coal and 
coke. The building, situated on Grand River avenue, between Second and 
Third streets, is by far the most handsome and most substantial brewery we 
have ever seen. Built of brick, with freestone trimmings, it is a credit to 
its owner and to our city. This with his other buildings occupy nearly a 
whole block, and are all two or three stories in height. The premises have a 
frontage on Grand River avenue of eighty feet, and on Cherry street one 
hundred and forty feet. There are five large ice houses, one of which is 
thirty-eight by sixty feet, and there are four cellars under the ground con- 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



nccted by flues to the ice houses. The firm has in these cellars storage 
capacity for six thousand barrels of beer. Here the beer is in process of 
fermentation and made ready for consumption. The upper parts consists of 
buildings, other storage premises, etc. Mr. Voigt consumes annually three 
thousand tons of ice, two tliousand seven hundred tons of which is stored 
every winter in the five large ice houses. i\Ir. Voigt employs twenty-five 
men, who received la'^t year wages amounting to $14,000. The capital 
invested is $130,000, and the business done this year will amount to $168,000. 
It is needless for us to speak of the qualities combined in the production of 
this establishment, the superiority of the article being widely known. Two- 
thirds of it is consumed in this city, and the remainder is shipped to all 
parts of the country, east and west. 




K. ^W. VOIGT, 



BBEWER OF 



THE BOSS 



TRADE TVIARK 



LAGER BEER, 

BREWERY, 

GRAND RIVER AVENUh), HKTIiOIT, MICH. 



On Drauglit Everywhere, 

— AND IS BOTTLED BY — 

J. BELLER. 11 STATE STREET, 

J. F. MOLONEY & CO., GRAND RIVER AVENUE, 

WILLIAMS & CO., BREWERS, DUNCAN'S BREWERY. 



MESSRS. JOHNSTON &. CONRATH. 

These gentlemen have one of the most flourishing establishments for a new 
concern that can be met with in the city. They are both young men, but 
possess unusual faculty for business, and having from boyhood been actively 
engaged in their present vocation, they are eminently superior to the general 
run of manufacturing opticians. Although scarcely a year old, this firm 
has already in\-eiit('d three most necessary impiovements, the most useful of 
which is the patent "Eye Tester," an instrument similar to a small telescope, 
mounted upon a tripod, and used to determine the exai't lense required; the 
old-fashioned eye testers only registered the number, but when it is known 
that there are six classes of lenses, viz: the piano convex, double convex, 
perisco])ic convex, piano concave, double concave, and pcriscopic concave, 
none of which can l)e regidated to (hat nicetj' re(iuired by many persons, thus 
the necessity for some instrument that will perform this office is obvious. By 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



a simple niochanical adjustment, with which the patent " Eye-Tester" is fur- 
nished, tiie utmost accuracy can be o1)tained. Anotlier much-nefulcd improve- 
ment, also patented by tliese ii'entlemen, is the " Ea.sy-Fittinn- Eye ({lass," the 
frame of which is provided with an elastic contrivances which, to use, their 
own words, "will curl caressiniily and cutcl_y around the crookechist nose in 
creati(m." The advantages to be gained from the use of this glass must bo 
ex])crienced to be appreciated. The "Economical Spectacle" is also the 
invention of this house, the great advantage being in Ww end of the temple 
pieces, which are tlat and curve .slightly outward, thus preventing the scratch- 
ing so common to the old style;, at the same time holding the spectacles firmly 
in place. Messrs. M. S. Smith & Co. are the sole retail agents for the sale of 
these articles in the city of Detroit, and those troubled with any affection of 
the sight should pay an early visit to their establishment. The present site of 
the ^icrrill Block was formerly occupied by an old-fashioned two-story brick 
l)uilding, built l)y one Robert Smart, who lifty years ago resided in a small 
French wooden house where the music store of J. P. Weiss now stands. It 
formerly formed part of the Desuoyiers estates, who sold it to Mr. Smart. 
It afterward became the property of Colin Campbell, a well-known resident. 



JOHNSTON & CONRATH, 

Manufacturers of and Wholesale Dealers in 

SPECTACLES AND EYE-OL ASSES. 



Sole Proprietors of 

Johnston's Patent 
ECONOMICAL SPECTACLES 

— AND— 

Easy Filling Eye-Glasses. 

Also Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers of 

JOHNSTON & CONRATH'S 

PATENT 

TELESeO'Pie 

EYE=TESTEn, 





No. 11 Mehkill Block, Corner of Jicpferson and Woodward Avenues, 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 



MRS. R. W. WRIGHT (late Mrs. L. C. Merritt.) 

Mrs. R. W. Wkight, the well knoM'n and lady like proprietor of the Empori- 
um of Fashion, started business in Detroit about ten years ago. She com - 
menced upon a very moderate capital by opening a small establishment o])posite 
the Michigan Exchange, where she remained for two years, during which time 
she made herself thoroughly known, and gained a first class reputation, as 
being the best milliner, dress and mantua maker in the city. She then removed 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



to more commodious premises in the Opera House block, where she remained 
for three years training fresh laurels continually. Her business now assumed 
mammoth i)roportions, and necessitated lier i-emoval to her present larger 
premises at 47 aud 49 Monroe avenue. This establishment su'->pliesa want long 
felt by tlie ladies of this city, and tiiat it is dul}' appreciated is amply illust- 
rated by the fact that Mrs. Wkigiit does as much busmess as all the other 
houses of the same kind combined. Between thirty and forty hands are em- 
played in the various departments, and all commissions are executed promptly. 



MRS. R.W.WRIGHT 

(Fornierly Mrs, L, C Merriu.) 



Empofium of Fashion 



DRESSMAKER, 

IinporUr of Fasliions, 

French Corncti* and Paniers. 

French, Plain and Tvimmed 
Patterns SoTd. 

ASK FOIl 

"Le Corset Dellesant." 

Nos. 47 AND 49 Monroe Ave. 

Corner of Farrer St., 

DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 




S. H. IVES, Pawn Broker. 

This is the oldest and largest house of the kind in the city of Detroit 
having been established about ten years ; for many years previously Mr. 
Ives was engaged in the banking aud money broking business in the city. 
He is an extensive importer of diamonds and watches, and probably has a 
larger collection of diamonds and other precious stones than any other house 
in the city. He makes a specialty of loaning money on these and other 
articles of value, deposited as security. Any person temporarily embarrassed 
and having the collateral can be accommodated, and receive honest and 
gentlemanly treatment at the hands of S. H. Ives. He lately bought the 
stock and business of Segman Cohn, the well known pawn broker of this city, 
located on Woodward avenue, where he displays a magnificent stock of 
plated goods, silver ware, jewelry, etc. 

Mr. Ives, by skillful and shrewd management, alwaj's succeeds in pur- 
chasing lower than market prices, and gives his customers the benefit of his 
experience, thus diamonds, watches, etc., can be bought of him at lower 
figures than wholesale quotations. 



THE LAKE PORTS. IO3 



AN ORRK 

Corner Woodward Avenue and Congress Street, 



G^L_OAN orrioe:^.^© 



Liberal Advance!* on DIAITIOIVDS, ^VAXCHES and JKWELRY, 



Have on hand a Largj Stock of Forfeited Pledges which I will sell at 

GUEATI-Y UEDUCED PRICES. 

Importer and Dealer in 

FINE WATCHES AND DIAMONDS, RICH JEWELRY 

AND SILVER WARE. 



Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Musical Boxes, etc., 

Promptly Repaired and Warranted Equal to New. 

57 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 

JAMES P. DONALDSON & CO. 

This house, successors to Dunliip, IJoualdson it Co., hiive for some time 
been extensively engaged in the sale of cordage, naval stores, tackles, blocks, 
wire rope, etc., at 22 Woodward avenue. Indeed, a general ship chandlery 
business is successfully conducted liy these gentlemen. Successful from the 
fact that nothing, however trivial, needed about a boat or vessel, either useful 
or ornamental, can be asked for which they are not able to supply. In con- 
nection with the above, they deal largely in paints, oils, rubber packing, 
hose, roofing felt and cement. Their sail loft, occupying the upper part of 
the building, is one of the most spacious and well appointed in the city. 
They make a specialty of the manufacture of awnings, sails, tents, flags, etc. 

JAS. P. DONALDSON & CO. 

DEALERS IN 

flAlLWAY, STEAMBOAT AND MANUFACTURERS' SUPPLIES, 

CORDAGE, TWINES, COTTON DUCK, r^;^ 

Rubber and Leather Belting, Tracking Hose, 
naval stores, wire rope, etc. 



MANUFACTURERS OP 

AWNINGS, SAILS, TENTS, FLAGS, ETC., ETC. 
Officb, 22 Woodward Ave., - - Detroit, Michigan. 



I04 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



J. P. WEISS. 

"Music hath charms to sooth the troubhid breast," so saith the poet, and 
those whose bosoms are agitated with contlicting emotions, no matter what 
their character, should pay an early visit to this well known establishment, 
where every description of musical merchandise is kept m stock, from a one- 
key fife to a -12,000 organ. Mr. AVeiss is a gentleman of superior ability as a 
musician, and possesses an intimate knowledge of the mechanical structure 
of the various articles in which he deals ; these qualities, together with his 
large experience in the business, acquired by close application, during a great 
number of years, makes him a most reliable exponent of all things pertaining 
to the musical world. His stock of sheet music is complete, and is constantly 
being augmented by the latest productions of standard authors. 

Those desirous of purchasing an organ, piano or any kind of musical 
instrument, will do well to avail themselves of this gentleman's unequaled 
experience. As a man Mr. Weiss possesses all the attributes that go to make 
a perfect gentleman ; and as a citizen his universal urbanity and benevolence 
has won to him a host of friends. 



R. WEISS 



TJeaier in 




MUSICAL INSTRCJMENT8, SHEET MUSIC, 

And Musical Merchandise of Every Description. 
Pianos Sold on Monthly Payments, 

Pianos ranging in Price from $150, $200 and $800, without calling 
them $800 or $1,000 Pianos. 

I also call your attention to the cel^b^ated and world renowned 

sTEiNA^TiiLY F^r^isros, 

Of which I keep a large stock on hand for purchasers to select from. 

FAIR DE.\LING IS GU.VRANTEED. 

72 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 



SWIFT &. DODDS. 

In no branch of science has more progress been observable or more 
important discoveries made in the same space of time than in pharmacy and 
remedies for diseases, and no city can claim in its pharmaceutical membership 
a class of druggists more thoroughly educated or more reliable in their pro- 
fession than the city of Detroit. Among the most prominent of them is the 



THE LAKE PORTS. 105 



well-known house of Swift & Dodds, Avhose extensive premises at 54 Wood- 
ward avenue are profusely stocked with the thousand requisites that 1^0 to make; 
up a thorouijhl}' tirst-class house in this line. Care and experience have enal)led 
this house to furnish each department with the best of goods, and their stock 
of paints, oils, varnishes, chemicals, heavy drugs, glues, manufacturers' sup- 
plies, etc., are thoroughly u]) to the market standard, and in (juantities 
suflicient to meet the demands of any trade. This, in l)rief, is a modi'i house, 
representing and I'Xerting a vast intluence over the country it controls for its 
trade, and one which has done nuich to keep steadily in the advance the 
growing interests of this business in the great commercial field of the West, 
and by the application of all those essential ({ualities requisite for the success- 
ful carrying on of any enterprise. 

SWIFT & DODDS, 

AV^HOLES^LE Druggists, 

54 WOODWARD AVENUE, DETROIT, MICH. 
LAZIER & CO., Commission and Forwarding, 

FOOT OF FIRST STREET. 

On the dock, fronting on the beautiful Detroit river, is the oldest estab- 
lishment in the forwarding and commission business, and largest in the West. 
This building has a river frontage of IT.') feet by 200 feet deep, three stories 
and shed attached, all being built of brick, affording ample room for the 
large amount of freight that includes grain, country produce, lime, salt, and 
mining supplies that are shipped by the boat load toup-lake regions. 

L.\ziER & Co. are successors to Buckley & Co., whose predecessors were: 
Gurdon Williams & Co., 1844; G. O. Williams & Co., 1854; Williams & Co., 
18(32 ; L.\ziER & Co. , 1875, and occupied the building as long ago as 1844, 
when it was built specially for the business by Gen. Cass, for "Uncle Gurdon 
Williams,"' so-called. These enterprising proprietors have always bad a large 
capital, and done an immense business, which has never been less than a mil- 
lion dollars, and often double that amount. 

The Lake Superior trade demands their principal attention — which takes 
a leading position in mining supplies — and have always been agents for a 
line of steamers to upper lakes, where there are innumerable resources of 
wealth. Ward's magnificent line of steamers, of which there are eight, leave 
this wharf during the summer, for pleasure trips and excursions to the beau- 
tiful waters of Lake Huron, Michigan and Superior. Lazier & Co. are 
the agents. 

JACOB MANN, Lager Beer. 

The manufacture of lager beer is a more important feature in the city's 
trade than the unitiated may suppose, and Jacob M.\nn, the .subject of this 
sketch, is a fair representative of the brewery interests in this city. He has 
the reputation of making one of the finest articles of lager beer known to 
the trade, and sends it all over the State. Mr. Mann makes a specialtj^ of 
brewed beer for bottlers, and in this branch of his trade has few equals and 
no superiors. He puts it up in whole barrels, half barrels, and quarters. 
To be a good lager beer brewer is to be a successful man financially, and 
Mr. Mann appears to have discovered the secret and is successfully acting 
upon it. Parties who are dissatisfied with the quality of the beer they have 
been using, can rel,y upon getting perfect satisfaction by ordering of Jacob 
Mann's famous brewery. He can supply you at 28 and .30 Maple street, cor- 
ner of Rivard, or at his brewery, 343 to 3.51 Rivard street. 
2 



io6 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



LEWIS MANN. Bottled Beer. 

This is the largest beer bottling works in the city. Mr. Mann commenced 
the bottling of beer about six years ago, for the purpose of supplying lovers 
of the beverage with a purer quality of bottled beer than had been furnished 
heretofore. His bottling establishment is located at 311 Ilivard street, 
Detroit, where he keeps a supply of fine bottled lager and pure distilled cider. 
Mr. Mann has received letters patent for a case for the shipment of bottled 
beer and cider, insuring safe transportation from Detroit to any part of the 
State. These cases are a splendid invention, and well deserving of the notice 
of beer bottlers and shippers. They are sold at a moderate figure to all per- 
sons requiring them. On the left end of the case is a shipping tag, which is 
pasted or tacked, and covering the head of the screw and securing that end 
of the cover, at the same time showing if the case has been opened during 
transfer. He has always on hand a large stock of beer, and sells bottler's 
outfits at wholesale prices. 



JACOB MANN, 




Lapr Beer Brewer, 



Nos. 2i &30 Maple Street, 



(Corner of Rivard), 



And from 348 to 851 Rivard Street, 



DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 



BEER BOTTLES AND OUTFITS 



AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BY 



LE"v^is isA.j^isnsr, 



811 Rirard St, Detroit., Mich. 



THE LAKE PORTS. I07 



JOHN H. WENDALL &. CO., Commission Merchants, 

54 AND 56 UIVKH STREET. 

Tills wt'il-kiunvii coiiimission lirm coinnumced business In lyG5, at No. 12 
Atwiiter strrct, aftcrwai'ds reni()vln,<)- to their jirescut five-story brick build- 
in.ij:, which is 4().\SU IVet. 

This firm encircles one of the lart^est commission interests in the State. 
Their business duriui^ the year 187(i reached about $4,500,000, which shows 
well for the transactions and steady increase of their business. 

They starte<l with a moderate capital, which has increased steadily from 
year to year. 

They recieive consignments of fiour, grain, poi'k and seeds, from all parts 
of th(! United Slates and Canadas. They fill orders to all parts of the United 
States and ('ana<las, and have filled grain orders the past year for London, 
Liverpool and Glasgow. 

These gentlemen have had long and tried experience in the commission 
business, to which they have devoted their entire time. They are well and 
favorably known throughout the entire country, and occupy a large space at 
the head of the commission houses of the West. They are keen thinkers, 
shrewd in all their dealings, for the same reason they enjoy immeasurable 
popularity throughout the country. 

THE GREAT WABASH RAILWAY. 

The railroad systems of the United States are perfect marvels of complete- 
ness, taken as a whole, and in some few instances, individually. Among the 
latter may be classed the Great Wabash, which is one of the most impoitant 
entering the city of Detroit, through its connections with the Canada Southern 
and jMichigan Southern Roads. One of the most important trunk roads in the 
country, it owns and conti-ols over one thousand miles of railroad, and its freight 
and passenger traffic is something enormous on account of its sure connections 
with other main lines. As a medium of public locomotion it has become a gen- 
eral favorite, both with travelers and sliippers. Safety both to life and proi)erty 
being ensured by the care and watchfulness with which it is manuHgcd in its 
several departments. It now controls and operates the following lines: Toledo 
to St. Louis, four hundred and thirty-foui' miles ; Toledo to Hannibal, four 
hundred and si.xty-four miles ; Toledo to Quincy, four hundred and seventy-four 
miles ; Toledo to Keokuk, four hundred and ninety miles ; Toledo to Peoria 
four hundred miles ; and Toledo to Bloomington, three hundred and twenty- 
two miles. Any new departure by competing roads is speedily followed up by 
similar Improvements on this road, and the fast train, which has for the past 
few weeks been running from Kansas City, Atchison and St. Joseph to Toledo, 
a distance of seven hundred miles in twenty-four hours, without change of 
either passenger or baggage, is highly appreciable by a large proportion of the 
traveling public. Its general offices are at Toledo, and under its new manage- 
ment it promises to be a source of considerable profit to the shareholders. Mr. 
A. L. Hopkins, a gentleman of a large railroad experience, and well known 
throughout the country as a successful and popular man in all matters connected 
with railroad management, has lately taken the general management, and it is 
confidently expected that under his government the line will not only maintain 
its already enviable popularity, but advance to the front ranks among the great 
through lines of the continent. Mr. H. Townsend is the general passenger and 
ticket agent, and is a gentleman in every sense of the word, being honorable 
and upright in his dealings, courteous and affable to all with whom his business 
brings him in contact. In point of efficiency for his onerous ofiice, his large 
experience and intimate acquaintance with every detail of his department, 
renders him well qualified to fill the position. During his administration of the 
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw road, which now forms a branch of the Great Wa- 
bash, he worked unceasingly to bring the passenger business up to a creditable 
standard, and it may confidently be presumed that the same energy will be dis- 
played in the inte^sests of this popular route, and with like satisfactory results. 



loS THE LAKE PORTS. 



THE MICHIGAN STOVE COMPANY. 

The impetus j^iven to manufacturers in Michigan l).y the development of 
its mineral wealth, is in no Western city better demonstrated than in Detroit, 
and by no industry better than that which forms the subject of this article. 
The magnilicent show rooms, foundries, moulding shops, etc., of this com- 
pany, occupy a commanding situation on Jefferson avenue, and run back 
almost to the Detroit river, covering an area of about 1(),()0() square feet. 
Upon entering the river from Jefferson avenue, the visitor is introduced to 
the show room, an apartment 120 feet long by 50 feet wide, in which are ar- 
ranged the various stove.s and ranges manufactured by the Company. 
Among the most prominent of these are the "Centennial," "Iron. Age," 
"Forest Light," and "Garland," the last named being by far superior to 
anything of the kind now l)efore the public. 

From the show room we pass to the offices, resplendant with plate glass 
and handsomely carved walnut furniture. Next comes the moulding floor, 
227 by 90, added to which is a supplementary building, 70 by 90 feet, then 
the mounting and finishing room, where one's voice is completely lost amid 
the whir of numberless emery wheels ; thence to the fitting rooms, and 
finally to the polishing department, where a number of men and boys are 
constantly employed preparing the different styles of trimmings ready for 
receiving the nickel plating — in the tine finish and execution of Avhich this 
Company excels all others. 

Before closing this brief sketch of so worthy an enterprise, we would 
like to add a few remarks respecting the new base burner just completed by 
this Company. We refer to the " Garland," a production of artistic beauty, 
skill, and mechanical finish, which any similar establishment will find it diffi- 
cult to surpass. In perfecting the designs and patterns for this stove, the 
Company has spared neither time, trouble nor expense, and the result has 
proved in every particular satisfactory; indeed, the " Garland " has but few 
equals and no superiors, and the great object which the Company had in 
view when this stove was placed upon the market, has been fully realized, 
viz: beauty of design, durability of workmanship, and prices that challenge 
competition. 

The new building now occupied and owned by the Company was erected 
in 1871, and is in every way adapted to the requirements of so extensive a 
manufactory. The present capacity of the works is twenty-five thousand 
stoves per annum, in the manufacture of which a force of three hundred and 
fifty men is employed, and in which a capital of $400,000 is invested. The 
officers of the Company are gentlemen well known in business circles through- 
out the United States, and upon whose integritj' and fair dealing all classes 
maj' rely with the utmost confidence. Mr. F. Palms, who has for many years 
been prominently associated with the manufacturing interests of this city, is 
president; M. I. MiLi,s,vice-president and treasurer; G. H. Barbouu, secretary 
and assistant treasurer; J. Dwyer, manager, and B. M. Anthony, salesman. 
These names, combined with the universal popidarity of the articles manu- 
factured by the Company, ensure a future realization (and that at no distant 
day) of the most sanguine expectations, and the honors so recently conferred 
upon them at our nation's first centennial, are but the foreshadowing of still 
greater achievements in the time to come. 

W. MERRITT'S NEW TEMPLE OF FASHIONS. 

This is (uie of the most noteworthy of Detroit's institutions. No one 
knows better than the ladies themselves what is contained in the magnifi- 
cently ai)pointc(l rooms of the Tcmjile of Fashions. The manufacture of 
ladies' garments has ])econie, by reason of arbitrary fashion, which compels 
its votaries to submit to numberless extravagant though beautiful modes of 
attire, a fine art. Such skill is required in designing and trimming, that 
many years' experience are absolutely necessary before the dress-maker can 



THE LAKE PORTS. 109 



hope for success. W. MKuniTT and his wife have had the necessary experi- 
ence, and the result is that the style and beauty of the productions of the 
Temple of Fashions are perfection itself, and not to he surpassed even l)y the 
W()rl(!-reno\vned,Worlh. The establishment is situated at Nos. 48, 50 and 52 
Farrar street, opposite the New Library Building;;, and a more desirable loca- 
tion woidd be impossible to find, in close proximity to Woodward avenue (one 
of tlie i)rincipal thorounhfares of the city), and yet avoidiuii" all the noise and 
bustle of that busy street, while the Libi'ary iiuildini,^ with its ])retty sur- 
roundini;- i;rass i)lot. immediately«o]))iosite, materially enhance the retirement 
and (|uict of \ho situation. The "Temple" was opened in May, ISTd, and 
iu)twitlistandinn- its recent birth is in an extremely t1r)urisliinu,- condition. It 
was impo.ssible for such an in.stitution to exist in Detroit without siiecdily 
being- discovered by the ladies ; so Mr. and Mrs. Merritt found, their business 
increasing so rapidly as to necessitate the engagement of about twenty-five 
employes. His rooms are elegantly furnished, and a choice display of the 
latest patterns and French styles are constantly on exhibition. Mr. Merritt is 
also a clever (k'signer and trimmer, and ladies deiiending upon his skill and 
judgment always have reason to congratulate themselves upon so doing. 

W. M ER R ITT'S 

ISTKW^ tii:m:f»le of f^shioists 

Corner of Gratiot Avenue and Farrar Street, 
(Nos. 48, 50 and .52, opposite the New Library Building.) DETROIT, MICH. 

tS"N B.— Ladies' Robes, Suits and Wraps, elegant and stylish, made or furnished to 
order. Also, the latest imported French Fashions for sale. Orders executed promptly. 

FORD, CHENEY & CO. 

This firm has the reputation of being the first millinery house in Detroit. 
Upon inspecting their magnificent stock, embracing as it does, a large and com- 
prehensive assortment of all appertaining to this important business, one soon 
becomes a convert to the belief that no store in the city possesses as many 
attractions for the fair sex as the one in question, and to judge from the 
constant throng of visitors to the establishment, it is correspondingly well 
]iatronized. Tlie firm import largely, and make it a point to keep on hand the 
latest styles in bonnets, hats, etc., for ladies wear. One of the reasons for the 
unwonted success of this firm is the fact that nothing, however trival, can be 
asked for in connection Avith the millinery business which they have not on 
hfmd. Their assortment of Ostrich tips, fancy feathers, French flowers, and 
all the new shades of silks and ribbons is a very fine one and deserving of a 
special notice. To conclude, ladies about purchasing anything in the miilinery 
line, cannot do better than ])ay a visit to the reliable establishment of Messrs. 
Ford, Cheney & Co., at 172 Woodward avenue. 

DETROIT & MILWAUKEE R. R. 

The above road extends from Detroit to Grand Haven, a distance of one 
hundred and eighty-nine nlil<^s, connecting by steamboats with Milwaukee. It 
connects with the Flint & Pere Marquette, at Hoily ; the Jackson, Lansing & 
Saginaw, at Owasso ; the Detroit. Lansing & Lake iMichigan, at Ionia: the 
Grand Rapids, Newago & Lake Shore and the (Trand Rapids <k Indiana, at 
Grand Rapids ; the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore, at Nunica : and the 
Michigan Lake Shore, at Ferr. sbnrg. The Detroit i.t Milwaukee Railroad has 
gained the good will of the traveling public as well as business men, from the 
promptness and care exercised in the; transmission of freight, the consideration 
with which passengers are treated, the gentlemanly dei)ort meut of its officers 
and its extremely low rates of freight and travel. Mr. Alfred White is the 
general freight agent, and these departments, under his skillful rule, are becom- 
ing deservedly popular. 



WOHNLICH &. ZABRISKIE. 

This tirm started in business in 1871, with a small capital, employing at the 
present time five first-class workmen, and have all modern facilities for 
cutting all iiinds of stencils, plates, and making wax seals, steel stamps, linen 
plates and l)ran(ling irons, and key tags, brushes, marking fluid, and keeps 
canvassers' outfits of all kinds on hand, and a specialty of the U. S. standard 
scales ; and are the manufacturers of mathematical and surveying instru- 
ments, and a specialty of models for patent offices. 

Surgical instruments made to order. These gentlemen have had long 
experience in their business, and rank second to none in the state. 

Models Made for the Patent Office. 



sWOHNLICH^rZABRISKIE, 
»S MATHEMATICAL^ 



>INSTRUMEMTS< 




Manufacturers of superior STENCILS, Seal Presses and Wax Seals, PvUBBER 
STAIMPS, Ribbon, Bank and Railroad Stamps, STEEL LETTERS, and 
Stamps for Patented Articles, etc., Burning Brands, Soap Stamps, 
Metallic Labels, Patented Adhesive Letters for Show Cards, 
Signs, etc. , Baggage Checks, Badges, Stencil Canvass- 
ers' Stock, Door Plates and Numbers, also Metal- 
lic Pattern Letters, for Foundrymen, etc. 

Steel Tapes, Chains, D^-afting Insirume7its, Etc. 
Also Repaii'ing and Adjusting. 



Lathes for $0.00 and Ujnvard. 
Scroll ^aius for $1.2 5 



^^ 



fefe^ 



AND UPWARD. 

FoK IMechanics, Jew'elers, 
Dentists & Amateurs. 



- W'\U\$ 



Turning Tools, Slide Rests^Taps and 
Dies, Chucks, Machine Screws, Calipers, 

Hand Vises and Hand Drilling Machines. 
Also Scroll Sawing Materials, Patterns, Woods, Etc. 




Dealers in Morse's Twist Dkii.i.s, Steel Scales, Scjuares, and other 
Tools of Darling, Brown & Sharp's make. P.S.— Stubs' English Tools and 
Wire and Model Makers' Supplies. Architects' and Surveyors' Goods. 
Circulars sent free. WOHNLICH & ZABRISKIE. TjO Woodward Ave. 
Detroit, Mich. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



Ill 



MUMFORD, FOSTER & CO., Leather and Findings. 

This is 11 lari,^c and iiloasant appearing cstablisliment, occupyincj a four 
story building-, ;>() l'(,'C!l front by 130 feet in deptli, is situated at 1(! Gruloit 
avenue. The miMubcrs of the liVni arc B. P. Mumfoud, E. D. Fosteu and 
Douglas Payne. This house was established in 1808, on Monroe avenue, 
which they moved to in 1876. These gentlemen are perfectly skilled in their 
business; all energetic, industrious, powerful in plan, and good to execute. 
They employ twenty-five hands, and two foremen, at their factory, 401 At- 
water street, where they manufecture lasts, boot trees, crimps, and have an 
extensive trade thro\ighout the United States. They keep a superior quality 
of goods in their line, which gives any wholesale and retail house an enviable 
reputation, and furnishes customers every imaginable opportunity for selec- 
tion. Annual sales amount to .'J^I.IO.OOO. 

A. DONDERO, Willow Ware, &c., 

Located at 57 Monroe avenue, is engaged in the manufacture and importa- 
tion of willow ware on a very extensive scale. His wholesale and retail 
trade is quite large, and his work is of a very superior character. Per- 
sons desiring anything in his line may rely on being suited both as to price 
and quality of goods. 

.A. r>OIVDJEK,0, 

Manufacturer and A^Tlolesale and Retail 
Dealer and Importer in 

Willow Ware, Sofas, Chairs, 

Work Stands, Baskets, Flower Stands and 

all kinds of Fancy Willow Ornaments. 

Repairing Neatly Executed. 

57 Monroe Ave. , Detroit, Mich. 




L(kw ki\d Collection Offide^ 

Established in Michigan, 1S59. 



WM. S. EDWARDS, 

5, 6, 7 & 8 I^ewis Block, Detroit, 

Nearly opposite Post OfiQce. 
EASTERN DISTRICT U. S. COURT. 



EDWARDS & DOR AN, 

Pierce Block, - Grand Rapids, 

WESTERN DISTRICT. 



Bankrupt Cases, Unsettled Estates, Copartnership Accounts, and General Mer- 
cantile Collections attended to. 



R. O^. RUDD & SON, 

PROPRIETORS OF VALLEY MILLS. 

Orion, Oakland Co., MIcli. 

Dealers in Flour, IMill Feed, Corn, Oats, Plaster, Etc. Also manufac- 
turers and dealers in superior brands of "VVliite Wlieat Flour. 
51 .MICHIGAN AVENUE. 

GEO. D. MACKIMMIE, 
DEALER IN DRUGS, MEDICINES, PERFUMES & FANCY ARTICLES 

Corner First Street and Jeflfcrson Avenue, 

DETROIT, MICH. 
Physicians' Prescriptions a specialty. 

Joseph. SclmeideT', 

279 Grand Biver Avenue, - - D]!:TR0IT, ITIICH., 

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in PINE LUMBER, SHINGLES, 
LATH, PICKETS, ETC. 

Cor. Fourth St. and Grand Ave., Detroit, Mich. 



MICHIGAN IN 1877, 








THE STATE CAPITOL, LANSING. 



HISTORICAL REVIEW. 

'^^jTjjICHIGAN possesses an area of 56,451 square miles, having more than 
/JlT |i New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island combined. It is divided 
(;> y > into two peninsulas. The lower, being much the oldest settled and 
\l most populous, has an area 33,871 square miles. It is completely 
sm-rounded on three sides by the waters of the northwestern lakes, which 
envelope it with a warm, moist atmosphere, favoi-able alike to health and agri- 
culture. The variety of its soil admits of the successful cultivation of all the 
cereals (the Michigan white wheat, especially, being world renowned), the root 
and fruit crops, sorghum and tobacco. This portion is plentifully intervened 
with navigable rivers and useful water courses, which run far into the ulterior, 
amidst forests of pine, oak, black walnut and other timber. 

The Upper Peninsula adjoins Wisconsin on the west, but is otherwise sur- 
rounded by water, and separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of 
Machinaw. It has an area of 22,580 miles, which is enth-ely different in its 
conformation from the Lower Peninsvda, being rugged, rocky and mountain- 
ous, though interspersed with plain, river and valley. The climate here is 
equable, and the air pm-e and bracing, but the winters are of longer duration 
than in the Lower Peninsula. It abounds in mineral deposits, which have been 
mined with increasing energy and profit for twenty-five yeai-s. Michigan was 



THE LAKE PORTS. II3 



iulmitted into tlie Union as a State in 1887. Tlie increase of its popnlation 
(witliout notini;- the Indian element, has been as follows: 

1800 • 551 I 1850 397,654 

1810 4,7G2 I 1854 507,521 

1820 8,8'J(J I 18G4 80:j,()61 

1880 31,689 I 1870 1 184,287 

1840 212,207 | 1874 l'834,081 

STATE GOVERNMENT. 

SALAKIKS. 

Governor Charles M. Croswell, Adrian $1,000 

Lieutenant Governor Alon/o Sessions, Ionia 9^'^ per diem* 

Secretary of State E. G. D. Holden, Grand Rapids * 800 

State Treasurer..: W. B. McCreery, Flint 1,000 

Auditor General Kalph Elj% Alma 1,000 

Commissioner of the Land Otfice. B. F. Partridge, Bay City 800 

Attorney General O. Kirchuer, Detroit 800 

Sup'ut of Public Instruction H. S. Tarbell, East Saginaw 1,000 

CITY OF LANSING THE CAPITAL. 

The capital of the State of Michigan, a flom'ishiug city of about 8,000 inhabit- 
ants, is situated in the northwest corner of Ingham county, near the longitudinal 
center of the lower peninsula of the State. Railroads radiate from the city in 
seven different directions. Southeast, the D. L. & N. R. R. connects it with 
Deti'oit, 85 miles distant; south, the Saginaw division of the M. C. R. R. con- 
nects it with Jackson, 87 miles, and the L. S. &M. S. Ry.. with Albion and 
Jouesville, 87 and 59 miles distant, respectively ; southwest, the C. & L H. R. 
connects it with Battle Creek, 45 miles ; northwest, the D. L. & N. R. R. con- 
nects it with Ionia, 88 miles, and northeast the Saginaw division of the M. C. 
R. R. with Saginaw and Bay City, 64 and 79, and the C. & N. E. R. R. with 
Flint and Port Huron, 50 and 116 miles distant, respectively. In 1848 the first 
meeting of the legislature was held here, the site having within a year beeu 
cleared, the state house built, and sufficient accommodations provided for board- 
ing the members. Lansing was incorporated as a city in 1859, but it was not 
till 1868 that it was accessible by rail. It has since grown rapidly, and bids 
fail' to become a place of considerable commercial Importance, aside from its 
prestige as being the seat of government. 

THE STATE BUILDINGS. 

The legislature of 1871 voted an appropriation of f 1,200,000 for the erection 
of a new State capitol, and this structure is now (1877) in an advanced state of 
progress: it is wholly of stone, brick and iron, and as nearly fire proof as possi- 
ble. It is in the palladian style of architecture, and is 845 feet in length, 191 
in width, and 265 feet in height to the top of the lantern. A rotunda and dome 
occupy the center of the building. The basement will be used for the State 
armory and for storage purposes. The first floor will be fitted up for the 
various State offices; the second and third stories will be thrown together in 
part for the hall of representatives, senate chamber, executive apartments and 
State library, part of the third story being used for the Supreme Court room. It 
is to be ready for occupany in 1878. 

The State Library contains ovt'r 80,000 volumes, and is in a flourishing con- 
dition. The State Reform School is located on a farm of 224 acres, just north- 
east of the city, it has at present (1877), 256 inmates. The State Agricultural 
College is located three miles east of Lansing. It had an endowment from 
Congress of 240,000 acres of land, tlie greater portion of which remains un- 
sold. The number of students for 1877 is 164. 



*While presiding over the Senate only. 



114 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



OTHER INSTITUTIONS. 

Laiisiug boasts of 15 churches of the various denominations comniion in this 
State. It has likewise an admirable school system. A new high school 
building has recentlj^ been erected at a cost of f (30,000. The Odd Fellows of 
the State here maintain an extensive institute for an orphan asjdum and home 
for indigent members of the onler, the value of the property being about $100,- 
000. Valuable mineral waters are found here. Among the hotels is the Lans- 
ing House, a large and first-class hotel in every respect. The newspapers are 
the Republican, published semi-weekly, one of the most carefully edited papers 
in the State, and the Journal, an excellent democratic weekly. The State 
printing office of W. S. George & Co., is one of the most extensive and com- 
plete in the northwest. 

BUSINESS INTERESTS. 

The Grand river, upon which the city is situated, is susceptible of considerable 
improvement as a water power. The manufacturing interests include three 
sash and blind factories an extensive chair factory, a bending factory, two 
large coopering establishments, two agricultural implement factories, a large 
machine shop, etc. There are two national banks, the Second, capital 
$00,000, and the Lansing, capital $100,000, also two private banks There are 
several exclusively wholesale houses in Lansing. The cit,y has several fine 
blocks of stores, a good opera house, man}^ handsome residences and is lighted 
with gas. Six splendid iron bridges (five of which were erected in 1875) cross 
the river at various )K)ints. The bonded debt of the city, including the aid 
voted to railroads, is $171,800. Telegraph, Atlantic & Pacific and Western 
Union. Express, American and United States, S. D. Bingham, postmaster. 

SECOND NATIONAL BANK. 

No financial institution in the city has a better reputation than the Second 
National Bank. Officered by shrewd and able men, and with a sufficient capital 
it ranks A 1 among the banking houses of the city. It was opened for busi- 
ness in 1864, having bought out the interest of the First National Bank, with a 
capital of $50,000, and by its strictly honorable dealings soon won for itself a 
sterling reputation, and at the present time enjoys the patronage and support 
of a large number of our citizens and business men. A general banking busi- 
ness is transacted, drafts issued to all points, and prompt attention given to 
collections. The officers of the bank are Ephraim Longyear, President ; .Tames 
H. Turner, Vice-President, and Denison Longj'ear, Cashier, who together with 
C. H. Longyear, and J. M. Longyear, constitute the present Board of Directors. 
Parties from abroad wishing collections made, or any other business of a 
financial character transacted may entrust it to the Second National in the full 
assurance that the institution is as solid as tlie rock of ages, and fully able to 
withstand any commercial storm that may arise. 

H. INGERSOLL. 

To the above named gentleman belongs the enviable distinction of having 
the finest and largest dry goods and millinery house in the city of Lansing. It 
occupies two floors of two fine stores, having a frontage of forty-four feet by 
a depth of one hundred, at 121 and \2'6 Washington avenue. From the days 
when our Mother Eve's transgression rendered clothing a necessity, to the pres- 
ent, a complete revolution, or rather a succession of revolutions, have taken 
place in regard to attire and personal adonnucnt, and the manufacture of cloth- 
ing (at least so far as the fair sex is concerned) has become quite a fine art. To 
meet the wants of the present generation all the dressmaker's and milliner's 
skill is called into requisition, to keep pace with the ever changing and fickle 
fashion. Such establishments, therefore, as that kept by Mr. H. Ingersoll 
become quite indispensable. His stock of dry goods is large and carefully 



VUV. I.AKE PORTS. II5 



selected, embracinsf all the newest and most fasluonal)le articles in the market. 
And the purchaser must certainly find it somewhat difficult to refrain from i)ur- 
chasin;;, where the Ljoods are so lavishly displayed as to render the temptation to 
buy almost irresistii)le. Another braneii of his business consists of carpets and 
all kinds of house furnishing goods, and in which a beautiful display is exhib- 
ited of everything appertaining to this line. Tiie millinery department is also 
very complete, and in this branch a large wholesale connection has been worked 
up, the trade extending througliout the entire State ; the large and compre- 
hensive stoclv fully warranting tiie assertion that tiie concern is fully equal to 
any in Michigan." Tliis fact, together with the irrei^roachable nain(' the house 
has borne for so many years, recommends them favorably to tlie notice of all 
retail dealers. The concern was started about twenty years ago, thus being 
early identified with the commercial interests of the community, and by always 
keei)ing a well assort(Hl stock and paying strict attention to the wants of custom- 
ers, has kept pace with the city's growth. From a small commencement a trade 
has been worked uj) the annual returns of which aggregate $20U,000, and ne- 
cessitating tlie assistance of twenty -five employes. 

B. D. NORTHROP. 

The above named gentleman is the proprietor of the handsomest drug store 
in North Lansing. His establishment is located on Franklin street, and consists 
of a commodious store, twenty-four by fifty feet in extent. Some elegant show 
cases, filled with choice toilet articles, fancy goods and perfumery are disposed 
about the store, giving it an air of beauty and refinement seldom met with. The 
stock carried by this house consists of pure and unadulterated drugs, wines and 
spirits for medicines, and the other well known numerous articles that go to make 
up a first-class druggist's stock. He also keeps a full line of paints and oils, 
books and stationery, tobacco and cigars. Mr. Northrop has a sterling repu- 
tation as a careful and reliable preparer of prescriptions, and is well known to 
the medical fraternity as a thorouglily trustworthy and responsible man. Per- 
sons needing anything in Mr. Nokthrop's line, cannot do better than to give 
him a call. They will find him a perfect gentlemen, and ever ready to cater to 
their wants. 



13. T>. TV <> K T H ROl? , 

DEALER IN 

RURB DRUGS, MEDICINES, 

Vlicmicals, Dye Stuffs, Perfaineries, Toilet and Fancy Arfides, dr. 
Van Auken's Hew Building. NORTH LAN3ING.MICH. 

Physicians' Prescriptions carefully prepared at All Hours. 



BAKER dc PORTER. 



CnAIK FACTORY. 



This is f)ne of the largest business enterprises of Lansing, and deserves 
special notice on account of its completeness in all its details and its general 
usefulness. It is perhaps the largest chair factory in the State outside of Grand 
Rapids. The ])resent firm succeeded the Lansing Chair Factory, who formerly 
carried on the business about a year ago. The factory and salesroom are located 
on Grand street, and consist of two fine brick buildings, ea(;h fifty by one hun- 
dred and twenty-five feet in extent and three stories high. Two boilers and an 
engine of one hundred and eighty-five horse power are emploj'ed to drive the 
machinery, of which there is an immense quantity, and of the most improved 
kind. One of the most noticeable pieces of machmery consists of a patent auto- 
matic lathe for turning cliair legs, etc. A skillful workman can, by means of this 
lathe, turn out twenty-five hunch-ed legs per da}% where by the old hand lathe 
process not more than two hundred could be manufactured in the same time. 



Il6 THE LAKE PORTS. 



The capacity of tlie factory is very large, and in the manufacture of the chairs 
gives employment to about thirty-five persons. The specialties of the factory 
are cane, flag and wood seated chairs, and besides their ordinary staff of men, 
the services of twenty-five boys at the reform school are engaged in caning 
chairs for the firm. Messrs. Baker »& Porter have lately designed two exceed- 
ingly unique patterns for chairs, called the " Capitol Cottage " and the "Ran- 
som Cottage." They area very fine cane seated chair, of splendid workmanship 
and elegance of finish. Tlie backs are finished in either walnut or oak, and by 
reason of their sterling excellence will doubtless become one of the most popu- 
lar chairs in the market. The large and comprehensive stock carried by this 
firm, combined with the well known superiority of their productions, recommend 
them to the favorable notice of all dealers. Their firm have already established 
a good connection, their sales extending throughout the entire States of Michi- 
gan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. We cannot close without complimenting 
Messrs. Baker & Porter upon the admirable manner in which their institution 
is conducted, and congratulating them upon the possession of such a large and 
extensive business. 



O. A. Baker. W. H. Porter. 

BAKER & PORTER, 

MANDFACTURERS OF 

CHAIRS, 

Factory and Salesroom, 
GRAND STREET, - LANSING, MICH. 



CHAS. E. WAGNER. 

As an instance of how much may be achieved by perseverance and busi- 
ness energy, we refer to the establishment of Chas. E. Wagner, who com- 
menced business something less than a year ago. He occupies a commodious 
store at North Lansing, having a frontage of twenty-six feet by ninety feet 
deep, for the sale of general merchandise. His stock comprises a beautiful 
display of general dry goods, millinery, boots and shoes, choice groceries, 
etc., etc. He also makes a specialty of buying butter and eggs, shipping 
large quantities of these commodities to Detroit and East Saginaw. The 
large and comprehensive stock carried by this house, and coupled with the 
extremely low prices at which goods are sold, make it the most desirable 
place at which to trade. Persons may rely upon receiving fair and courteous 
treatment at the hands of Mr. Warner or his employes. This is the largest 
establishment of the kind in North Lansing, and notwithstanding its some- 
what recent establishment, a business has been worked up worth .f7o,00() 
annually. 

J. H. MOORES, Real Estate. 

The above-named gentleman occupies commodious offices on the corner of 
Washington and Michigan avenues, as a real estate oflice. He has a larger 
amount of pine and farming lands for disposal than any other agent in the 
city, or in the State, outside of Detroit, having about one hundred and fifty 
thousand acres of pine lands and twenty thousand acres of good farm lands, 
being located in the northern part of the State. Pine lands, as an invest- 
ment, have long been acknowledged as one of the safest and best speculations 
that can be engaged in, while for the pioneer they offer imusual advantages: 
the land being cleared, is capable of producing unexceptionable crops, as has 
been frequently proved. By this means a farm can be purchased at a very 
small cost, a few years, perhaps, of hard labor, and then the happy farmer 
can survey his neat homestead, with its nice clearing, with the greatest of 
satisfaction, in the thought that it has been subdued by him from a state of 



THK LAKE PORTS. 1 I 7 

nature to its pi'cscnl t'crlilily. 'I'lic cliinatc ol' nortlicrn Micliii;;iii is ikjI to he 
siir])ass(>(l in tiiis or any other State; the atinosi)hcri; is eh-ar and ilry, and 
a licalthier icuion cannot he found. Mr. J. II. Moouks has hcicn in husineH.s 
in Ijansini,^ for six'years, and hy reason of his well-i<ii()\vn and slerlinii' inte.i^- 
rity paiMies may rely inipiicitiy on iiis representations. He handU's a ureat 
(h'al of real estate on eonunission. and persons havini;' land they are desirons 
of i)lacini;' on tlie niarkc^t, cannot (entrust it a more honorable, eomjx'tent or 
conscientious man than IMr. J. II. ^Moouks. 

B. W. & M. J. BUCK. 

The foundation of this larg'e and extensive furniture business was laid 
twenty-eisrht years ai^-o by Mr. I). W. Buck, thus bein.u; very early identified 
with the business interests of the community. Bysti'ict attention to business 
and by always kcepiuii' on hand a well selected stock, the concern has kept 
pace with the growinu; importance of the citj', and at the present time 
assumes mammoth proportions, beini? without a doubt the larsje.st furniture 
house in the State outside of Grand Rapids and Detroit. They formerly 
manufactured furniture lar<:;el3', but have since discontinued that l)ranch, and 
adhere to the jo1il)in,n' trade. They have, however, a rejjairini;' and up- 
holsleiy department in connection, and in which skilled workmen are em- 
ployed and perfect satisfaction guaranteed. Their establishment is located 
on the corner of Washington avenue and lona street, and consists of a fine 
two-story jiremises, having a frontage forty-four feet by a depth of one 
hundred and thirty-five feet. Their stock is a very tine and large one, com- 
prising every kind of furniture manufactured, from a child's miniature chair 
to a magnificent drawing-room suite. Their parlor, t)ed-room and dining- 
room .sets are also very line and deserving of special notice. There is an 
undertaking department in connection, well equipped in every particular, 
three handsome hear.ses and a beautiful cliildren's hearse being used in con- 
nection, this last being the mo.st elegant and beautiful hearse in the State. 
A full assortment of liandsome cotfins are also always kept on hand. The 
large and comprehensive stock carried by this house make it the most desira- 
ble place to trade. Mr. D. W. Buck is a gentleman well and widely known 
among business men and others for his many admirable qualities, and is a 
man held in great respect bj' his fellow citizens, having twice held the oliice 
of mayor of the city. Mr. M. J. Buck, the junioi', and who has been lately 
admitted, is the son of Mr. D. W. Buck, and will doubtless do all that in him 
lies to sustain the good name the house has borne for so many years. 

D. W. «fe JVl. J. I$UCK, 

DEALERS IN 

Parlor Furniture, Children's Cabs, Brackets, Upholstery Goods, Etc. 

Undertakln;^ a Specialty. 

Ncs. 193 AND 195 Washington Avenue, . . . . LANSING, MICHIGAN. 



C. E. HULBERT, 

AUENT FOR GOUDON'S FOOD FOU HORSKS AND C.VTTLE. 

The above-named gentleman has just been apjiointed State agent for that 
valuable preparation for horses and cattle known as "Gordon's Food." On 
account of its great merit, it may not be considered out of place to give it a 
brief mention in these pages. Althougli it has been used in England for 
many years with the greatest success, its introd"ction into this country lias 
been somewhat recent. But even now the sales in the cities of New Yoik 
and Philadelphia and the State of New Jersey amount to twenty-tive tons 
weekly, while the annual sales for the United States reaches the large amount 



ii8 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



of It'll thousand tons, without counting the Western States and Michigan, 
into wliich Stale it has only just been introduced. The inventor and patentee 
is Gerald (Gordon, Esq., of Cincinnati, Ohio, an analytic chemi.st by pro- 
fession, whose large practical experience in applying this branch of science 
to the feeding of stock, has already won for him a wide and honorable repu- 
tation among the leading stoctk raisers and horse trainers in Europe and the 
United States. He held for years a controlling interest in the North British 
Cattle Food Company, and during the cattle plague in England proved beyond 
all doubt the merit of his food by its salutary eifects upon diseased stock. A 
great thing in its favor is the fact of its containing no metalic substances, its 
ingredients being entirely vegetable. It is a combination of such roots, 
herbs, seeds and spices as science and practical experiments have proved 
beneficial to the health of all stable-kept animals. It does away with all 
such (to a horse) iinpalatable preparations as condition powders, bran mash 
and oil cakes, and supi)lies as a substitute something not only eagerly relished, 
but imparts its palatable qualities to other food, so that straw, corn stalks 
and poorly cured hay wuU be readily eaten when cut and mixed with it, or 
when dampened and the food sprinkled over it. For colic, wind, worms, 
cribbing, and as a digester, the food cannot be surpassed. The above men- 
tioned disorders have all been completely cured by the food, as hundreds of 
testimonials will amply testify, and as a regulator it has been known to regu- 
late an animal when all other means have failed. This may be considered to 
be claiming a great deal for one article, but when it is considered that all 
these complaints arise from a disordered system, and that a wholsome diet, a 
perfect digestion and a free circulation of blood are the conditions of health 
and activity, and that it is the design of Gordon's food to secure these 
results, its claims will not appear extravagant or irrational. To sum up, 
Gordon's food is a really meritorious article, as the wn-iter of this ha.^ had 
abundance of proof, and that it will be patronized here as well as in other 
States there is very little doubt. In fact, the great success it has met with 
hitherto augurs well for its future. All owners of horses and cattle should 
not fail to try it. Communications addressed to Dr. Gordon's Food Agency, 
Lansing, Michigan, will receive prompt and courteous attention. 



K. BKIJVIPJNT & SONS, 




Ittanufacturers of PLOUGHS & AGRICUL,TURAL. IMI»L>EMENTS, 



THE LAKE PORTS. II9 



E. BEMENT & SONS, Agricultural Works 

The reputation of the Benient plow, throughout Michigan, has made it 
necessary for Messrs. Bh.mknt & Sons to enhirge their concern, and manu- 
facture other agricultural implements. Their foundry and .shops arc in 
complete order and are now prepared to furnish all kinds of machinery used 
by farmers. A visit to tlieir establishment will satisfy any one that they need 
not look further, as their concern is the largest in this section of the state, 
and as business men the Messrs. Bement are well known as prompt, popular 
and obliging. See page 118. 

MESSRS. G. W. WOOD & CO., Artists, 

Whose card appears below, are affable and courteous gxuitlemen, and well 
fitted to sustain the reputation for superiority in their profession which they 
have long enjoyed: and any body wanting anything in their line will do well 
to call. 

G. W. WOOD & CO., 
PHOTOaR^I^HIO ARTISTS, 

Corner of "Washington and Micliigan Avenues, 

Lansing, Mich. 

Satisfaction in every way guaranteed. Children's Photos, Copies, and Travelers' 
Samples a Specialty. 

RUSSELL HOXJS,E, 











nrft It] 



LilfclMPXlMiMkffiE^'S 




J! 



Public Square, opposite City Hall and Opera Houses. Commanding the Leading 
Thoroughfares of the City. 

Fine Passenger Elevator and all Modern Improvements. 
WITBECK, CHITTENDEN & CO., Proprietors. 



LANSING HOUSE, 

One of the Largest and Best Hotels in the State. 

M. HUDSON, Proprietor, - - LANSING, MICH. 



THE LAKE PORTS. 



MICHIGAN ENTERPRISE IN NEW YORK. 
GOODSELL BROS., Founders of the Daily Graphic. 

Tbpsi; si)ecimens of the western Yankee were born in Pentiac, jNIicblgan, 
and at an early age began to exhibit unmistakable traits of the numerous Yankee 
family. The first noticeable Yankee symptom was a frequently expressed 
desire to go west, and as soon as parental authority was disposed of we find 
them wending their way to Chicago to compete for the fickle smile of fortune. 
They soon obtained situations as local editors on the leading papers of the city, 
but their aspirations were upward and onward, and ere long we find them the 
originators and proprietors of an insurance journal christened the Spectator, 
■which has ever been considered a standard publication by the insurance frater- 
nity. With success came higher aspirations and longings for a more extended 
field in which to exercise their latent talents. After mature deliberation they 
decided to try their fortunes among their eastern progenitors, and concluded 
New YorK city was the best point to locate. Once located, their inventive 
genius soon discovered a field in which to exercise their great natural and culti- 
vated abilities. The work to which they devoted their combined energies was 
the production of a daily pictorial sheet, an enterprise wholly new, and neces- 
sarily experimental ; and one, we might add, that none but a combined eastern 
and western Yankee would ever dare attempt ; but the goddess of fortune has 
smiled upon their efforts, and to-day no daily in New York' city is better 
patronized or more ably edited. In connection with the paper they conduct 
the most varied and extensive printing establishment in the city, where all the 
different styles and designs in lithography or printing ever thought of, or that 
ever can be designed while the Goodsell Bros, exist, may be found. 

PVEKY MAN OF FAMILY 

Who is able to spare the money for a New York Daily Paper, owes it to his 
family to subscribe for 

The Daily Graphic, 

AND FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS : 

It is the Only Illustrated Daily in the World. 

It is the most Interesting Daily Issued. 

It Illustrates Truthfully all Great Events. 

It is Independent, High Toned and Respectable. 

It Pleases the Family Better than all others. 

It is only f 1.35 per month or $12 per year. 

It is preserved for binding by hundreds of its readers in city and country. The annual 
subscriber gets a Pictoral History of the Year, a volume of twenty-four hundred pages, 
constituting a valuable record of events and a graphic iJanorama of our time and progress. 

Every Thursday THE DAILY GRAPHIC publishes a 

Supplement devoted to the Pictoral Illustration of the Great Centennial 

Enterprise, 

which is furnislied without extra cliarge to every reader and subscriber. This feature will 
be continued and enlarged upon, and when the" Exhibition is in progress will prove of sur- 
passing interest. Address 

TTxe GrTCLpTxic CorrupcLny , 

PARK PLACE, NEW YORK. 



■^ 



^ 



Run Tlirough Without Chmifie between the i)rincipal 



•UT:Ess=u?:E3^^3r >n^ is JLS=I»:E3^5I^^ cz^i^iriiss- 




Wabash Railway. 





'Tm^ 



The Great Union iJepol at 1 oletlu. 



And propose to fight it out on this line if it takes :ill smnnier. 

THE GEEAT WABASH 

Beats them all in Time and Rates. 

-"^^eE SLEEPING e:fl2S Q 'D.^Y COACMES 

AKE RUN THROUGir, WITHOUT CH.\NGE, TO 

L.^i^.. . .TE, Peoria, Buklington, Keokuk, St. Louis, 

Hannibal, Quincy, Kansas City, St. 

Joseph, and Atchison. 

this route is famous for its 
GOOD TRACK ! GOOD Qa6s> GOOD TIME ! 

Good Connections and Few" Cha.nges of Cars ! 



THE SHORTEST AND MOST T\T?"T''D ATT^ AND POINTS IN MICHIGAN, 
DIltECT KOUTE FROM JU£j *L iCvWAi 1 CAN ADA AND THE EAST, 

TO ALL POINTS 

■WEST ^nsrr) sotttuvt-eist. 

Close Connections made at ST. LOUIS, QUINCY and HANNIBAL for all 
Points in MISSOURI, TEXAS, KANSAS, COLORADO, and 
NEW MEXICO. , 

TICKETS for Sale by this Route, at ail the Principal Ticket 
Offices of Connecting Lines. 



The Only Line Between Toledo and the Mississippi Biver 

UNDER ONE MANAGEMENT. 

A. L. HOPKINS, R. ANDREWS, H. C. TOWNSEND, 

GcrCl Manauer. Oen'l Superintendent. Gen'l Passcnqer Agent. 






i /4 .«! 



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;*ir 



M }^ 



